The Bank of Russia has approved the list of cryptocurrencies that non-qualified investors can buy - Bitcoin, Ether and USDT - with the ordinance taking effect on Nov. 17, 2026. Moscow Exchange follows with Russia's first organized digital currency market, planned for Dec. 1.
What you can trade and how
From Nov. 17, the three assets may be publicly traded on exchanges, according to the Bank of Russia announcement. Non-qualified investors buy through intermediaries, on both exchange and over-the-counter markets.
- Eligible intermediaries: brokers, trust managers and crypto exchange offices
- Cap for non-qualified investors: 300,000 rubles per year through a single intermediary
- Qualified investors get access to all cryptoassets with no restrictions
- Regardless of status, every investor must pass a test and read the risk disclosure
Why only BTC, ETH and USDT
The central bank says the list includes only the most liquid assets that meet the criteria set by law. Selection was based on market capitalization, average daily trading volume and pricing history on foreign exchanges, which must be at least five years.
The stated goal of the filter is to reduce risks for non-qualified investors.
Moscow Exchange starts Dec. 1
Moscow Exchange plans to offer financial market participants digital currency trades from Dec. 1, 2026. The market operates under law 282-FZ on digital currencies and digital rights, whose main provisions took effect on Sept. 1, 2026, with some rules applying from July and September 2027.
In the first stage, the exchange expects pilot trades, with participants connected gradually as they become ready. Interest has come from traditional exchange participants and their clients, and from entities already handling digital currencies for investment and settlement.
Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
Instruments at launch | BTC, ETH, USDT |
Trading modes | Anonymous and negotiated (addressed) |
Settlement | TOD (today), TOM (tomorrow), swaps for liquidity management |
Hours | 06:50 - 23:50 Moscow time |
Clearing | Single clearing through NCC |
Infrastructure and expansion
Digital currency trades run on the exchange's equity market technology and are included in NCC single clearing alongside other instruments. Trading hours match the stock market schedule.
The exchange says the list of digital currencies and digital assets will expand later with both international and Russian instruments. On the exchange, non-qualified investors can buy only after testing, up to 300,000 rubles per year through a single broker.