Nov. 4 (CandyPulse) — Russia's biggest stock exchange is getting ready to list crypto. Moscow Exchange says it plans to start trading bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH) and Tether's USDT on December 1, opening what it calls the country's first organized digital currency market.
Key takeaways
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Venue | Moscow Exchange (MOEX) |
| Assets at launch | Bitcoin, ether, USDT |
| Planned start | Dec. 1, 2026 (pilot trades as brokers join) |
| Clearing | National Clearing Center |
| Settlement | Same-day and next-day, plus swaps |
| Hours | 6:50 a.m.–11:50 p.m. Moscow time |
| Retail limit | 300,000 rubles a year per broker, after a test |
| Payments with crypto | Still banned |
Russia passed a crypto law whose main provisions took effect on Sept. 1. It allows regulated trading through licensed venues and brokers, while keeping the ban on using crypto to pay for things. Moscow Exchange is the first big venue to put that framework into practice, and Sberbank is reportedly preparing its own crypto service for December too.
For ordinary investors the rules are tight. Anyone who isn't a qualified investor has to pass a knowledge test before buying, and can only buy up to 300,000 rubles a year through each broker. Qualified investors face fewer limits.
This market will be largely domestic. Moscow Exchange and the NCC were sanctioned by the US and UK in June 2024, and the European Union added the exchange to its list in July 2026. That keeps most Western money out. Some industry voices have also questioned how much demand there will be, since Russians already trade crypto through offshore platforms.
Russia has been building its own digital money rails for a while; see how the digital ruble reached payroll. For how sanctions are shaping crypto elsewhere, read about Japan adding Garantex to its sanctions list.
Watch which brokers connect before Dec. 1, how many pilot trades go through, and whether Moscow Exchange adds more coins later. Follow the story on our Regulation and Bitcoin pages, check the Bitcoin price today, or catch up on all of today's crypto news.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile and can lose value. Always do your own research before making any investment decision.
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