Domestic exchanges in Russia may start cryptocurrency trading on Nov. 22, pending Bank of Russia approval of their trading rules, with Moscow Exchange slated for a Dec. 1 launch.
Russia’s financial regulator has cleared the way for domestic cryptocurrency trading to commence on Nov. 22, 2026, provided that each exchange’s trading rules receive formal approval from the Bank of Russia. The move follows the country’s September cryptocurrency legislation, which created a regulated framework for exchanges, brokers, digital depositories and other market participants.
Update, Nov 11, 16:19 UTC: CoinGape notes that the central bank's order was registered with the Ministry of Justice on Nov 3 and published on Nov 11, taking effect on Nov 22. Bitcoin Magazine reports that, as of the announcement, no exchange has yet secured the required rule approval from the regulator and that the St. Petersburg-based SPB Exchange aims to start organized crypto trading by year‑end. BeInCrypto adds that the Moscow Exchange is listed on a U.S. sanctions regime.
Exchanges must now register market participants, keep detailed records of orders and transactions, and calculate pricing indicators such as current, weighted‑average, market and closing prices. All trading activity must be reported to the central bank through the same procedures used for other financial instruments, according to a report from Interfax cited by crypto.news.
A separate decision on Nov. 6 approved Bitcoin, Ether and Tether’s USDT for purchase by non‑qualified (retail) investors, with the asset list taking effect on Nov. 17. Retail investors may buy up to 300,000 rubles of these cryptocurrencies per year through each intermediary, while qualified investors have no such cap but must still pass a knowledge test.
Moscow Exchange has announced a Dec. 1 launch of its crypto trading service, having tested transactions with professional market participants. The platform will operate under its existing regulatory permissions, offering Bitcoin, Ether and USDT with trading hours from 6:50 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. Moscow time. Brokers will provide client access, and a partner digital depository will handle custody and settlement.
Regulators will review the submitted trading rules in the coming weeks, determining which exchanges meet the new standards. Observers will also monitor the initial market depth and liquidity once Moscow Exchange opens, as well as any further extensions of the approved asset list beyond the three currently allowed.
Retail investors can purchase approved cryptocurrencies from Nov. 22, 2026, after exchanges obtain Bank of Russia approval and must stay within a 300,000‑ruble annual limit.
The approved list includes Bitcoin, Ether and Tether’s USDT, as decided by the central bank on Nov. 6.
No, Moscow Exchange will use its existing regulatory permissions and will not require a separate crypto‑specific license.
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