Moscow Exchange to Open Spot Crypto Trading on Dec. 1

The move signals a state-led push to channel retail crypto into supervised platforms under strict purchase limits.

Overview

The Moscow Exchange and major banks are in live testing and plan to begin spot trading in Bitcoin, Ether and USDT for clients on December 1.
Unqualified retail investors will face a 300,000-ruble annual purchase cap and must pass a knowledge test before buying eligible coins.
Sberbank has been added to the central bank’s registers for both exchange services and digital depositories and is testing BTC, ETH and USDT trades in its customer app ahead of the launch.
Key operational details remain publicly unresolved, including whether customers will get transferable onchain wallets or only depository custody, how accounts will be segregated and who bears custody risk.
The changes build on Federal Law No. 282-FZ that took effect on Sept. 1 and set a phased compliance timetable into 2027, but analysts warn much trading may stay off regulated venues and U.S. sanctions on some Russian banks add cross-border compliance limits.