# Moscow Exchange to open bitcoin, ether and USDT trading in December, with a 300,000 rouble cap for retail

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/crypto/moscow-exchange-to-open-bitcoin-ether-and-usdt-trading-in-december-with-a-300000)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 3 Nov 2026
Updated: 3 Nov 2026
Retrieved: 4 Nov 2026

> Russia's main bourse will sell spot crypto to ordinary investors who pass a test, under a law in force since September. Banks Sberbank and VTB are lining up too.

**Russia's main stock exchange, the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), will open trading in bitcoin, ether and Tether's USDT stablecoin in December**, [Cointelegraph reported](https://cointelegraph.com/news/moscow-exchange-bitcoin-ether-usdt-trading-december) on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. MOEX had set **1 December 2026** as the start of spot trading in digital assets, according to earlier reports carried by [PrimeXBT, citing Crypto Briefing](https://primexbt.com/news/moscow-exchange-to-open-bitcoin-ether-and-usdt-spot-trading-to-retail-investors/).

## How it will work

- **Spot, not futures:** buyers will own the coins themselves rather than a contract that tracks the price.
- **Retail investors** can buy **BTC, ETH and USDT** only, up to **300,000 roubles a year** (about $3,600), and must first pass a **knowledge test**.
- **Qualified investors** have **no purchase cap** and access to a wider range of digital assets.
- Trades run through MOEX's existing systems under its current licence as a trading organiser, with **digital depositories** handling settlement.
- The legal basis is **Federal Law No. 282-FZ**, in force since **1 September 2026**. MOEX began testing with professional market participants on **1 October**.

Russia's two biggest banks, **Sberbank** and **VTB**, are preparing digital asset services for their own clients. Analysts cited in the reports expect around **80%** of Russian crypto trading to stay on unregulated channels, where there are no caps or tests.

## Why it matters

A national stock exchange selling bitcoin directly to ordinary savers moves Russian crypto buying from offshore apps onto a regulated, state-licensed venue, with limits and tests built in for small investors.

## For readers in Pakistan

The Russian exchange is open only to Russian investors, so nothing changes for Pakistani traders. Bitcoin was trading at about **$77,264** on Tuesday afternoon, according to our [bitcoin price page](/data/btc-usd), with ether near **$2,277** on the [ether page](/data/eth-usd). Any gains from crypto are taxable in Pakistan; our [capital gains tax calculator](/tools/tax/capital-gains-tax-calculator) shows how disposals of assets are taxed, and the [dollar rate](/data/usd-pkr) converts prices into rupees.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can Pakistanis trade bitcoin on the Moscow Exchange?**

No. The service is for Russian investors; retail buyers there face a 300,000 rouble yearly cap and a knowledge test.

## Sources

- Moscow Exchange to launch Bitcoin, Ether and USDT trading in December (3 Nov 2026) (Cointelegraph): https://cointelegraph.com/news/moscow-exchange-bitcoin-ether-usdt-trading-december
- Moscow Exchange to open Bitcoin, Ether and USDT spot trading to retail investors (12 Oct 2026) (PrimeXBT / Crypto Briefing): https://primexbt.com/news/moscow-exchange-to-open-bitcoin-ether-and-usdt-spot-trading-to-retail-investors/

How to cite: "Moscow Exchange to open bitcoin, ether and USDT trading in December, with a 300,000 rouble cap for retail", Searchable, 3 Nov 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/crypto/moscow-exchange-to-open-bitcoin-ether-and-usdt-trading-in-december-with-a-300000