Moscow Exchange plans to launch Bitcoin, Ethereum perpetual futures next month

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Moscow Exchange plans to launch Bitcoin, Ethereum perpetual futures next month

Russia’s largest exchange is rolling out crypto perpetual futures as a new digital asset law takes effect September 1

by
Editorial Team

Aug. 18, 2026

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Via reuters.com

Russia’s largest stock exchange is about to make its most aggressive move into crypto yet. Moscow Exchange, known as MOEX, is preparing to launch perpetual futures contracts on Bitcoin and Ethereum as early as September 2026, timed to coincide with a sweeping new digital currency law that takes effect on September 1.

The exchange also plans to expand its crypto futures offerings to cover a total of ten different tokens, a significant leap from its current lineup and a clear signal that Russia’s financial establishment is building serious infrastructure around digital assets.

What MOEX is actually building

Perpetual futures are a staple of crypto trading on platforms like Binance and Bybit, but they’ve been largely absent from traditional, regulated exchanges. Unlike standard futures contracts that expire on a set date, perpetuals let traders hold positions indefinitely. Think of them as a way to bet on Bitcoin’s price without ever having to take delivery or roll over your contract manually.

MOEX’s version will feature automatic rollover for one-day contracts, a structural choice that keeps the product within a more traditional framework while delivering the “perpetual” experience traders expect. The contracts will be cash-settled, meaning no actual Bitcoin or Ethereum changes hands.

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There’s a catch, though. These products will only be available to qualified and professional investors, Russia’s equivalent of accredited investor status. Retail traders won’t be able to touch them, at least not initially.

Maria Patrikeeva, MOEX’s Managing Director of the Derivatives Market, has confirmed the exchange’s plans and signaled a broader commitment to expanding the crypto futures lineup beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum. MOEX has already introduced new futures indices for Solana, XRP, Tron, and BNB, laying the groundwork for what will eventually be a ten-token derivatives suite.

The regulatory backdrop

The comprehensive digital asset law taking effect September 1 establishes licensing rules for exchanges and digital asset custodians. It creates, for the first time, a formal legal framework for trading digital assets within Russia’s financial system. The law also maintains strict bans on cryptocurrency as a payment method within Russia. MOEX launching perpetual futures on the same timeline is not a coincidence. It’s a coordinated rollout.

MOEX already dipped its toes into crypto derivatives in 2025, when it launched cash-settled futures on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Those products served as a proof of concept, demonstrating that institutional demand existed and that the exchange’s infrastructure could handle crypto-linked instruments. The perpetual futures represent the next logical step, offering a product that more closely mirrors what’s available on offshore crypto exchanges.

Why this matters beyond Russia

The most immediate effect will be felt domestically. Russian institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals currently seeking crypto exposure have limited regulated options. MOEX’s perpetual futures offer a way to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum derivatives within a regulated, centrally cleared environment.

That’s not a trivial distinction. Central clearing means a clearinghouse stands between buyer and seller, reducing the risk that one side defaults. It’s the same infrastructure that underpins equity and commodity futures trading worldwide, and it’s precisely what’s been missing from most crypto derivatives markets.

The expansion to ten tokens is worth watching closely. By adding Solana, XRP, Tron, and BNB futures alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, MOEX is building a diversified crypto derivatives menu that could attract traders looking for more than just the two largest assets.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.