Moscow Exchange sets Dec. 1 to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading

The Bank of Russia has finalized the list of assets that investors without qualified status can buy, allowing exchanges to list Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT for public trading from Nov. 17.

In its Nov. 6 announcement, the central bank said non-qualified investors can buy through brokers, asset managers, or crypto exchangers, on exchanges, or over the counter. Purchases will be limited to 300,000 rubles annually through each intermediary, and investors must undergo testing before a transaction.

The directive defines the calculation as the ruble sum of acquisition costs for digital currencies already bought and being bought through that broker during the calendar year.

The broker calculation is tied to the calendar year, and both completed purchases and orders under consideration enter the sum. The broker applies the ceiling to those combined acquisition costs during the calendar year, so earlier purchases through that broker remain part of the calculation when another order is assessed.

Before transacting, investors must undergo the test and familiarize themselves with crypto investment risks regardless of whether they hold qualified status.

Qualified investors will be able to access any cryptoassets without the non-qualified investor asset-list and purchase-limit restrictions. They must also undergo testing and familiarize themselves with the risks.

The central bank said it selected liquid assets using market capitalization, average daily trading volume, and a foreign-market pricing history of at least five years. Those criteria explain the restricted list available through the non-qualified investor route.

Moscow Exchange targets December for Bitcoin and Ethereum trading

In a Nov. 2 release, Moscow Exchange said it plans to make digital currency transactions available from Dec. 1. Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT will form the initial instrument list, with pilot trades first and participants joining as they become ready.

The exchange plans to use its stock-market technology and include the transactions in National Clearing Centre clearing.

The final asset rules address a separate part of the market's opening. The intermediary-entry procedure that took effect Oct. 5 did not finalize retail asset eligibility.

Nov. 17 marks its legal effectiveness, while Moscow Exchange's planned December start illustrates the separate timetable for bringing the permitted assets to customers.