Cryptoupdated 33m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 11 May 2023Moscow Exchange Launches Pilot Bitcoin, Ether, And USDT Trading On Dec. 1
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MOEX will launch trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT on December 1, 2026. It will use Russia's regulated framework and existing securities infrastructure for the new crypto market.
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6 outlets told this the same way.
MOEX crypto spot launch
Moscow Exchange plans to begin pilot trading in Bitcoin, Ether and Tether’s USDT on Dec. 1 under Russia’s crypto law, which took effect on Sept. 1.
Moscow Exchange said the initial market will cover Bitcoin, Ether and USDT and that the venue will use its existing stock-market infrastructure.
Moscow Exchange scheduled trading from 6:50 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. Moscow time and said the National Clearing Center will process trades through its unified clearing system.
Moscow Exchange set a retail cap for non-qualified investors at 300,000 rubles in annual purchases through each broker, and it said non-qualified investors must pass a test before purchasing digital currencies.
Sanctions and demand doubts
Sergey Mendeleev, founder of cross-border payments platform Exved, questioned whether the new market would attract meaningful demand because Moscow Exchange’s sanctions exposure could discourage both local and international participation. Mendeleev told Cointelegraph, “Neither the global nor the local market will notice anything at all,” as he questioned who would trade on a sanctioned exchange.
Mendeleev also warned that ordinary non-qualified investors could face “absolutely outrageous spreads,” making the offering unattractive if buying and selling prices diverge sharply. Moscow Exchange and the National Clearing Center have been under US sanctions since June 2024, and the European Union added Moscow Exchange to its sanctions list in July 2026.
Rules, settlement, and next steps
Moscow Exchange said clients will have same-day and next-day settlement options from the launch and that swap transactions will be available to help participants manage liquidity. Moscow Exchange said the planned spot market follows several earlier steps, including perpetual-style futures linked to five crypto indices introduced in September.
Boris Blokhin, Moscow Exchange’s senior managing director for sales and business development, said, “We plan to launch cryptocurrency trading from December 1,” and he described the service as using the exchange’s existing securities infrastructure. Finance Magnates said the exchange will initially operate through pilot transactions, connect participants gradually as they become ready, and offer addressable and addressless transaction formats.
