Moscow Exchange to launch crypto trading on December 1, 2026, using its stock market infrastructure

Moscow Exchange plans to open organized cryptocurrency trading on December 1, 2026, RBC reports. As of the publication date, 54 days remain until launch. The exchange is already testing digital asset operations, and new legislation permits such transactions to run on the existing stock market infrastructure.

That last point matters most. Until now, cryptocurrencies in Russia have mostly traded outside the regulated perimeter: on foreign platforms, through intermediaries or directly between participants. Now they may end up in the same system as stocks and bonds, which already has clearing, settlement mechanisms, brokerage interfaces and oversight.

What is known about the launch

Public details are scarce. The report establishes three facts: the start date, the testing status and the legal basis. Everything else remains unclear for now.

• Launch date: December 1, 2026
• Venue: Moscow Exchange
• Format: organized trading, meaning an exchange regime rather than over-the-counter transactions
• Status: testing of digital asset operations is already under way
• Infrastructure: the existing stock market system
• Legal basis: new legislation that allows cryptocurrency transactions on such infrastructure
• Source: RBC, from which RB.RU picked up the news

Why the stock market infrastructure was chosen

A separate trading system for cryptocurrencies would have required new clearing, custody and risk control layers. Using a ready-made platform shortens the time to launch and lowers operational risk. It is also more convenient for brokers. Client accounts, reporting and admission procedures are already set up, so adding a new asset class becomes an integration task rather than a build from scratch.

There is a downside. Stock market infrastructure is designed for limited trading hours and the settlement regimes familiar from traditional securities. The cryptocurrency market runs around the clock worldwide. How the exchange will resolve this mismatch is unclear from the available information. It is one of the main technical questions of the launch.

What the report does not say yet

The report does not name the specific cryptocurrencies that will be in the initial list. It is unknown who will get access: only qualified investors, or retail clients as well. Transaction limits, the asset custody scheme and the role of the depository have not been disclosed. It also does not say which brokers will connect on day one. Without these parameters, it is too early to assess the launch's impact on the market. Retail access and the range of instruments will affect liquidity most.

What market participants should do before December

Brokers and asset managers should check in advance whether their accounting and compliance systems are ready for a new asset class. To do that, they need to wait for the exchange's official specifications and check them against their internal procedures. Fintech service developers should watch for the publication of technical requirements and connection interfaces: the window between documentation and launch may turn out to be short.

Private investors are better off not rushing to conclusions about returns. Until the admission rules, fees and asset list are published, any calculations rest on guesswork. The most reliable approach is to rely on official documents from the exchange and your broker rather than on retellings. They will most likely appear before December 1.