Moscow Exchange to launch Bitcoin, Ether and USDT trading on Dec. 1 under U.S. sanctions
Russia’s Moscow Exchange will begin trading Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Tether’s USDT on Dec. 1, 2026, using its existing equity‑market infrastructure and the National Clearing Centre for post‑trade processing. Retail investors must pass a knowledge test and are capped at 300,000 ruble (≈$3,700) of purchases per year, while qualified investors have no limit. Both the exchange and its clearing arm remain on the U.S. sanctions list, raising questions about how Tether will handle frozen wallets.
Why it matters
The launch gives Russian investors domestic access to major cryptocurrencies but limits retail exposure and introduces compliance risk due to the sanctions on the exchange and its clearing house (the company notes the sanctions could affect USDT handling).
Key facts
- 1Trading of BTC, ETH and USDT will start on Dec. 1, 2026. coindesk.com
- 2Trading hours will match the stock market, from 06:50 to 23:50 Moscow time. coindesk.com
- 3Retail (non‑qualified) investors must pass a test and can buy up to 300,000 ruble of crypto per year through a single broker. coindesk.com
- 4Qualified investors face no annual purchase cap. coindesk.com
- 5The National Clearing Centre will clear every trade and provide same‑day or next‑day settlement. coindesk.com
- 6Pilot trades are scheduled to begin on Nov. 2, 2026. bitbo.io
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 7 of 7 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.