Russia’s Moscow Exchange confirmed that it will launch direct digital-currency trading on December 1, 2026, describing the move as the country’s first organized market for such assets. The initial phase will operate as a pilot, with Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Tether’s USDT available for trading. The instruments will be offered in both non-addressed and addressed modes, and clients will be able to use same-day (TOD) or next-day (TOM) settlement. Swap operations will also be available for liquidity management.
The launch is based on Federal Law No. 282-FZ, “On Digital Currencies and Digital Rights.” Its principal provisions came into force on September 1, 2026, and further rules are scheduled for July and September 2027. The exchange said participants will connect to the new venue gradually as their systems are ready, with interest coming from conventional securities firms, their clients, and entities already involved in digital-currency investment or settlements.
Trading will run on the technological foundation of the existing equity market and will be included in the unified clearing processes of the National Clearing Center, with hours from 06:50 to 23:50 Moscow time. Under the legislation, non-qualified investors must pass a knowledge test and are limited to 300,000 rubles in annual digital-currency purchases per broker; qualified investors have no such ceiling. Domestic payments with cryptocurrency remain prohibited, while cross-border use by exporters and importers is handled separately. The Moscow Exchange previously signaled the December pilot in late October at the Smartlab conference and expects the instrument list to expand over time.
