Moscow Exchange and Sberbank Prepare December 1 Crypto Trading Launch Under Russia's New Regulatory Framework
Russia's largest exchange and bank plan to launch regulated cryptocurrency trading on December 1, with retail investors facing a 300,000 ruble annual cap and restricted asset access.
Why it matters
This marks Russia's formal integration of cryptocurrency trading into its regulated financial infrastructure, moving activity from offshore venues into a supervised system with licensed banks and exchanges. The dual registration of Sberbank as both exchange operator and depository allows it to internalize trading and custody, potentially accelerating mainstream adoption through familiar banking interfaces.
Where the sources disagree
Initial cryptocurrencies offered by Moscow Exchange
BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, TRX
CoinGape
BTC, ETH, USDT
Bitcoinist, Bitcoin.com News, Crypto News Flash, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, Crypto News (CryptoNews.net), Decrypt
CoinGape reports Moscow Exchange will offer BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and TRX, while Sberbank-focused sources list only BTC, ETH, and USDT for the bank's launch
Key facts
Sberbank received Bank of Russia approval as a crypto exchange operator on October 12, 2026
Reported by CoinDesk
Sberbank was previously listed as a digital depository on October 6, 2026
Reported by CoinDesk
Retail investors face a 300,000 ruble annual purchase limit per intermediary
300,000 RUBReported by Bitcoinist
Unqualified retail investors are restricted to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT
Reported by Bitcoinist
Sberbank plans to launch crypto trading through SberBank Online, SberInvestments, and SberBusiness on December 1
Reported by CoinDesk
What happened
Moscow Exchange (MOEX) announced plans to begin cryptocurrency trading on December 1, 2026, following the September 1 implementation of Federal Law No. 282-FZ. The exchange is currently testing with professional market participants and expects to offer Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and TRON initially. Separately, Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, secured Bank of Russia approval on October 12 to operate as a crypto exchange operator, adding to its October 6 digital depository registration. Sberbank plans to launch Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT trading through its existing platforms on December 1. Under the new rules, unqualified retail investors face a 300,000 ruble (~$3,500) annual purchase limit per intermediary and must pass a mandatory knowledge test, while qualified investors have no cap. Crypto payments for goods and services remain prohibited, though cross-border settlements are permitted. The Bank of Russia's registers now list 10 exchange operators and 6 digital depositories, including VTB and T-Invest Lab.
How the story developed
- Official statement
Sberbank added to Bank of Russia digital depository register
First registration allowing Sberbank to record cryptocurrency holdings
- First report
First report by CoinGape
BREAKING: Russia’s Moscow Exchange Plans to Launch Crypto Trading in December
- Update
Moscow Exchange announces December 1 crypto trading launch plan
Senior managing director Boris Blokhin states testing with professional traders has begun
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by Bitcoinist
Moscow Exchange Plans To Open Crypto Trading On December 1
- Official statement
Official statement from Bitcoin.com News
Russia’s Moscow Exchange Pilots Crypto Trading for December Launch
- Official statement
Sberbank added to Bank of Russia crypto exchange operator register
Second registration allowing Sberbank to exchange cryptocurrencies, making it one of few firms with both licenses
- Update
Bank of Russia registers reach 10 exchange operators and 6 depositories
Registers include major banks Sberbank and VTB alongside non-bank firms
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 8 Oct 2026, 14:02 UTC: CoinGape — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 9 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTC: Bitcoinist — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 11 Oct 2026, 19:00 UTC: Bitcoin.com News, official — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 12 Oct 2026, 18:00 UTC: Crypto News Flash — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 12 Oct 2026, 21:00 UTC: Crypto.News — 5 independent sources, 6 reports
- 12 Oct 2026, 22:10 UTC: Bitcoin Magazine — 6 independent sources, 7 reports
- 13 Oct 2026, 11:02 UTC: CoinDesk — 7 independent sources, 8 reports
- 13 Oct 2026, 12:22 UTC: Cointelegraph — 8 independent sources, 9 reports
- 13 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC: Unchained — 9 independent sources, 10 reports
- 13 Oct 2026, 22:16 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 10 independent sources, 11 reports
- 14 Oct 2026, 19:46 UTC: Decrypt — 11 independent sources, 15 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: TRON, XRP, Base, United States, BNB
Original sources
Related events
Bank of Russia sets July 1, 2027 deadline for direct P2P crypto trades and bars self-custody transfers
Russia's central bank says direct peer-to-peer crypto trades between individuals end on July 1, 2027, and bars transfers from regulated digital accounts to self-custody wallets.
Russia's central bank registers first crypto exchanges and custodians under new framework
The Bank of Russia published its first registers of crypto exchange operators and digital custodians, approving four exchange operators and five custodians including Sberbank and VTB.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Yandex Data Centers Disrupt Russian A7A5 Stablecoin Operations
Ukrainian drone attacks on Yandex data centers caused A7A5 stablecoin transactions to collapse from 600 daily to under 20, leaving users unable to redeem funds.
Kyrgyzstan shuts gold-backed stablecoin USDKG and orders issuer EVA liquidated
Kyrgyzstan has ordered USDKG, its gold-backed stablecoin, shut down and its issuer EVA plus state-owned Coin Nomad Exchange liquidated, citing Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 639-t.
Moscow Exchange lists five cash-settled crypto perpetual futures for qualified investors
Moscow Exchange began trading five cash-settled crypto perpetual futures open only to qualified investors on Sept 22, 2026.
Moscow Exchange to Launch Five Crypto Perpetual Futures on September 22
MOEX says it will list cash-settled crypto perpetual futures on five indices for qualified investors on September 22, without crypto delivery.