Russia Crypto News: Moscow Exchange To Launch BTC ETH Futures
Lakshya Divekar
Russia Crypto News: Moscow Exchange To Launch BTC & ETH
In the latest Crypto News Today update, Moscow Exchange, Russia's largest stock exchange, has announced it will roll out Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual futures in September 2026.
The announcement came on August 17, 2026, from Maria Patrikeeva, Managing Director of the Derivatives Market at the exchange, during a media seminar. Russian state news agency PRIME and financial outlet Bits Media both reported on it.
It's a fresh chapter in Russia crypto news, really, as the exchange pushes past its current lineup toward instruments that don't expire at all.
What's Moscow Exchange Planning For Its Derivatives?
Patrikeeva confirmed that the launch will kick off with two contracts tracking Bitcoin and Ethereum indexes. Unlike the products already trading there, perpetual futures carry no fixed expiration date.
They just roll over automatically to the next trading day, which is part of what makes them appealing for traders working medium to long-term strategies.
As of August 18, 2026, these contracts are still in the pre-launch phase. September is the target window, though an exact date hasn't been locked in yet.
WuBlockchain also reported that Moscow Exchange plans to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual futures for professional investors, with the exchange expected to expand its derivatives coverage to up to 10 assets.
What Crypto Futures Are Already Trading There?
According to Moscow Exchange's 2025 Annual Report, Bitcoin and Ethereum index futures were launched in 2025, with qualified investors gaining access to regulated crypto derivatives.
More than 40,000 clients traded these contracts in 2025, generating over RUB 212 billion in trading volume.
Since June 2025, qualified investors have had access to monthly and quarterly futures on five assets:
Asset | Contract Type | Investor Access |
Bitcoin (BTC) | Monthly and Quarterly Futures | Qualified Only |
Ethereum (ETH) | Monthly and Quarterly Futures | Qualified Only |
Solana (SOL) | Monthly and Quarterly Futures | Qualified Only |
Ripple (XRP) | Monthly and Quarterly Futures | Qualified Only |
Tron (TRX) | Monthly and Quarterly Futures | Qualified Only |
Why Expand Into More Crypto Derivatives Now?
The latest Russia Crypto News developments also point to plans to grow the coin list from five up to ten over time.
Bits Media also reported that a separate digital settlement depository is in the works, one that would sit apart from Russia's National Settlement Depository and support broader digital asset operations down the line.
For readers who just want the short version: Moscow Exchange, Russia's largest exchange, is launching Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual futures in September 2026 for qualified investors, with plans to expand coverage to as many as ten assets alongside a new settlement custody system.
This isn't limited to either. According to PRIME, the exchange also intends to introduce perpetual futures on close to 20 foreign stocks, including names like Amazon, AMD, Tesla, and Netflix.
Key Details From The Announcement
Announcement date: August 17, 2026
Planned launch window: September 2026
Initial assets: Bitcoin index and Ethereum index
Long-term coin target: up to 10 assets
Existing user base: around 70,000 qualified investors
Additional plan: dedicated digital settlement custody system
Worth remembering here is that Moscow Exchange remains under blocking sanctions from the United States. That's a factor that continues to shape how it structures access to its derivatives products for domestic qualified investors.
Expert Opinion
Analysts following Russia Crypto News developments see this move as a way to deepen regulated access to Bitcoin and Ethereum index futures at a time when many Russian retail investors are locked out of foreign trading platforms.
The planned settlement custody system might also point to something bigger: an attempt to build lasting infrastructure ahead of expected shifts in Russian crypto regulation, rather than treating these derivatives as a short-lived experiment.
Whether the push toward ten assets translates into real institutional demand is another question entirely, one that will likely hinge on regulatory clarity and how the September launch actually performs.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Derivatives trading carries significant risk. Readers should conduct their own research before making any investment decisions.
