MOEX and the Saint Petersburg Exchange (SPB) have completed the technical preparations to launch cryptocurrency trading and are ready to activate the respective platforms. However, the trading systems themselves are awaiting final approval from regulators and the establishment of rules at the legislative level. Simultaneously, the government is advancing bills that will allow individuals to invest in digital assets within a formalized legal framework.
Preparing to Launch Cryptocurrency Trading
The exchanges are reported as technically ready: their systems have been tested and are reportedly prepared to start trading immediately after receiving the "green light" from regulators. This readiness includes integration with the standard exchange infrastructure, but the launch will only proceed once the legal framework is approved. The initiative aims to attract trusted capital into digital assets through existing financial institutions.
Who Will Be Able to Participate in Trading?
The proposed regulatory model establishes a clear participation scheme focused on two main investor groups: professional and retail, with separate rules for each. In particular, retail investors will have a limit of 300,000 rubles, serving as a risk mitigation measure for non-professional market participants; more details on restrictions can be found in the article about limits and requirements 300,000 ruble limit. At the same time, the list of available assets will filter out privacy coins: Monero and Zcash are not planned for trading.
Access for foreign investors and specific mechanisms for interaction with external counterparties will be defined by the final laws and compliance requirements. This means the terms and conditions for non-residents’ participation depend on the final regulatory texts and related procedures.
The Significance of Launching Cryptocurrency Trading
MOEX and SPB entering the cryptocurrency market is not just a technical step but an attempt to integrate digital assets into the country’s official financial system. The emergence of trading on leading exchanges means enhanced control, transparency, and formal guarantees for participants, which could help legitimize crypto assets within the existing infrastructure.
For the market, this is also an opportunity to bridge the gap between traditional and digital finance and create conditions for investment products under regulatory supervision. The impact on other platforms and institutions will depend on how the rules are finalized and which products are ultimately permitted; additional details on the regulatory concept can be found in the article about the Bank of Russia’s regulatory concept.
Upcoming Challenges
The main task is to complete the regulatory and legal work: without formalized rules, trading will not start despite the exchanges’ technical readiness. Additionally, compliance procedures and integration with international payment and settlement systems will require coordination, directly depending on the content of the final legislation.
The initiative’s success will largely depend on investor trust and how flexibly regulators can balance protecting retail participants with market accessibility for professional players. Trust issues and practical implementation of procedures will remain key at the launch stage.
Why This Matters
If you mine cryptocurrency in Russia, this decision could affect the availability of legal channels for selling and storing crypto assets: trading on major exchanges means more formal options for legalization and accounting of income from digital asset operations. Key parameters—retail investor limits and exclusion of privacy coins—directly influence retail sales opportunities through regulated platforms.
Even if you only mine and do not plan to trade actively, it’s worth monitoring developments: established rules will simplify interactions with banks and tax authorities when converting cryptocurrency to rubles or when setting up investment products based on digital assets.
What to Do?
- Follow official announcements from regulators and exchanges—the final rules will determine when and in what format trading opens.
- Ensure your record-keeping is ready: keep detailed logs of mining and sales operations to verify the source of funds if needed.
- Do not expect to trade privacy coins on regulated exchanges; if you use such coins, consider these restrictions in your future sales plans.
- Prepare basic KYC/AML documents—exchanges and brokers will require identity and source of funds verification upon trading access.
- If you operate a small number of devices, consider consulting an accountant or lawyer to properly reflect income and comply with limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will trading start?
Trading will begin only after regulators and the legislative branch approve the necessary legal framework. The exchanges are technically ready, but the launch depends on final rule approval.
Which cryptocurrencies will be available?
Specific lists have not yet been published; it is known that privacy coins like Monero and Zcash are not planned for trading on these platforms. Other asset decisions will be announced by regulators and exchanges after regulatory approval.
How will trading on MOEX or SPB differ from regular crypto exchanges?
The main difference is that trading will occur within a formal regulatory structure, with compliance requirements and investor protections, including set limits for retail participants. This means stricter reporting and KYC/AML procedures compared to some unregulated platforms.