Moscow Exchange will launch Russia's first organized cryptocurrency market on December 1, 2026, allowing institutional participation in digital asset trading.
Regulation & Gov ·
The Moscow Exchange plans to begin offering cryptocurrency transactions to financial market participants on December 1, 2026, establishing Russia's first organized digital currency market. The launch follows the enactment of law № 282-ФЗ on digital currencies and digital rights, with key provisions taking effect from September 1, 2026 and additional rules phased in during 2027. The initial phase will involve pilot transactions as participants gradually connect to the new market according to their readiness.
Trading will utilize the exchange's equity market infrastructure and integrate crypto transactions into the unified clearing system operated by the National Clearing Centre. The platform will operate during standard equity market hours, from 06:50 to 23:50 Moscow Standard Time. Initial instruments will include BTC, ETH, and USDT available in both non-custodial and custodial modes, with spot transactions (same-day and next-day settlement) and liquidity management tools such as swaps.
Under the regulatory framework, non-qualified investors will be able to purchase digital currency after passing a test, limited to 300,000 rubles annually through a single broker. The list of available digital currencies and assets is expected to expand to include both international and Russian instruments, though a timeline for such expansion has not been specified.