This is a provider case study, not a product recommendation. Use it with the personal accounts guide and the source-of-funds guide. Primary evidence: Korona's live Russia corridor page.
KoronaPay (Zolotaya Korona) is a Russian money-transfer service operated on the Russian side by RNKO Payment Center. On 14 August 2026 its official Russia page listed four outbound destinations — China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan — while the European page said new transfers were unavailable and offered refunds. RNKO Payment Center is listed in Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1843 of 23 July 2026.
What the service is
Zolotaya Korona started as a Russian card and payment ecosystem and grew into a cross-border remittance network under the consumer brand KoronaPay. The operator on the Russian side is RNKO Payment Center (LLC), a non-bank credit organisation holding Bank of Russia licence No. 3166-K; the technology operator is ZAO Zolotaya Korona. The European side ran through Koronapay Europe Limited, a Cypriot electronic money institution.
The product itself is simple: the sender funds a transfer with a Russian bank card in the app or on the website, and the recipient collects cash at a payout location or receives the money on a Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card — free of charge for the recipient. Until mid-2026 this was the default remittance rail for millions of workers and relocants; the discussion of how such rails fit into a broader setup is in our guide to personal accounts abroad.
Key parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Russian operator | RNKO Payment Center (LLC), Novosibirsk; Bank of Russia licence No. 3166-K, OGRN 1025400002968 |
| Technology operator | ZAO Zolotaya Korona |
| European entity | Koronapay Europe Limited (Cyprus, HE375955); Central Bank of Cyprus EMI licence No. 115.1.3.30 |
| Sanctions status | RNKO Payment Center included in the EU's 21st sanctions package, adopted 23 July 2026 |
| Corridors from Russia | Only China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan (as of 14 August 2026) |
| Sending from Europe | Fully halted; the European site only processes refunds of previously sent transfers |
| Payout | Cash at 50,000+ payout locations or to Visa/Mastercard/Maestro cards; free for the recipient |
| Limits | Four tiers depending on verification depth; exact amounts are shown only in the app (the website is geo-dependent) |
| Who can send from Russia | Any individual with a Russian bank card, passport verification; citizenship is not restricted — destinations are |
Corridors and limits after the 21st package
The live Korona page listed China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan on 14 August 2026 and warned that the set can change. Exact limits depend on verification and are shown in the app. Europe-originated transfers were unavailable on the European service page, which offered refunds for earlier transfers.
Licences
On the Russian side, RNKO Payment Center (LLC) holds Bank of Russia licence No. 3166-K (OGRN 1025400002968); the entry is verifiable in the Bank of Russia credit institutions register. On the European side, Koronapay Europe Limited is a Cypriot company (registration HE375955) holding an electronic money institution licence from the Central Bank of Cyprus, No. 115.1.3.30, as stated in the footer of koronapay.com/transfers/europe. The Cypriot licence formally exists, but after the 21st package the European operation no longer sends money: the site only handles refunds of previously sent transfers.
Who can send and receive
Sending from Russia is open to any individual with a card issued by a Russian bank; identification is by passport. Citizenship is not a filter — the restriction is on destinations, not on who the sender is. Recipients collect cash at 50,000+ payout locations in the destination countries or receive the transfer on a Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card; receiving is free. For larger or regular transfers, expect the usual questions about the origin of money — our guide to source of funds covers what to prepare.
Sanctions and current availability
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1843 lists RNKO Payment Center. The current Russia service page lists China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan and warns that destinations can change. The European service page states that transfers are currently unavailable and that previously sent transfers can be refunded.
For closed corridors, compare a live alternative such as Avosend, but verify the destination, fee and payout method immediately before each transfer.
Who it suits
KoronaPay still makes sense for one narrow case: regular cash or card remittances from Russia to China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey or Uzbekistan, where the recipient side remains free and the payout network is unmatched. It no longer suits anyone sending to Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Israel, Serbia or any other closed corridor, anyone in Europe (sending is halted, refunds only), or anyone who needs predictable long-term rails — the operator is under EU sanctions and further tightening is possible. For closed corridors, look at alternatives such as Avosend.
FAQ
Is KoronaPay still working after the EU sanctions?
Partially. Transfers from Russia work to four countries only — China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. All other corridors, including Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Israel, stopped after the 21st EU package was adopted on 23 July 2026.
Can I still send money from Europe via KoronaPay?
No. Sending from Europe has been halted entirely. The European site, operated by Koronapay Europe Limited (Cyprus EMI No. 115.1.3.30), now only processes refunds of previously sent transfers.
What are the transfer limits?
There are four limit tiers tied to the depth of the sender's verification. The exact amounts are shown only in the app — the public website is geo-dependent — so verify your personal limit there before planning a transfer.
Who can send a transfer from Russia?
Any individual with a Russian bank card, verified by passport. Citizenship is not restricted; the restriction applies to destinations, not senders. Receiving is free for the recipient, in cash or on a Visa/Mastercard/Maestro card.
What should I use for the closed corridors?
For destinations KoronaPay no longer serves, a live alternative is Avosend; which rail fits depends on the corridor, amounts and how the recipient wants to collect the money.
Cite as: https://wiki.private.law/en/koronapay (reviewed 2026-08-14).