Moscow Exchange to launch crypto trading in Russia from Dec. 1

Traders Union
All News
Crypto
Moscow Exchange crypto trading

Highlights

Moscow Exchange will launch pilot crypto trading for Russian investors on Dec. 1, with trading hours set from 6:50 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. Moscow time.
Non-qualified investors must pass a test and face an annual crypto purchase cap of 300,000 rubles per broker as per Russia’s new crypto law effective Sept. 1.
Moscow Exchange and the National Clearing Center are under U.S., UK, and upcoming EU sanctions, raising concerns about liquidity and investor participation in the new crypto market.

Launch plan and market structure

As reported by Cointelegraph, Moscow Exchange says pilot trading begins as participants join the platform, with transactions routed through its existing stock-market infrastructure and cleared by the National Clearing Center. Trading is set to run from 6:50 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. Moscow time, with same-day and next-day settlement at launch, along with swap transactions.

The exchange says non-qualified investors must pass a test before buying crypto and will face an annual purchase cap of 300,000 rubles per broker. The rollout follows the Sept. 1 implementation of the main provisions of Russia’s crypto law, which allows regulated trading while keeping a ban on the use of cryptocurrencies for payments for goods and services inside Russia.

Sanctions pressure and questions over demand

Moscow Exchange and the National Clearing Center remain under U.S. sanctions imposed in June 2024, while the UK also sanctioned the exchange that month. The European Union added the bourse to its sanctions list in July 2026, raising questions over how much liquidity and investor participation the new market can attract.

Sergey Mendeleev, founder of Russian cross-border payments platform Exved, tells Cointelegraph he doubts the venue will draw meaningful interest, arguing that neither global nor local markets are likely to notice its launch. He says trading conditions could prove uncompetitive, warning of wide spreads for retail participants, though he adds the platform could still have some potential if it helps importers and exporters buy and sell crypto directly for cross-border trade.

In our earlier coverage of rising sovereign borrowing risks amid geopolitical shocks, we noted that sustained conflicts and elevated fiscal spending are keeping inflation and funding costs high, putting extra pressure on emerging markets. We also highlighted how disruptions tied to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are reshaping trade flows and forcing costlier supply-chain adjustments—factors that continue to weigh on financial stability and market access.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.