Moscow Exchange plans 24/7 crypto trading to lure domestic investors

Moscow Exchange (MOEX) is moving to launch continuous crypto trading, matching the nonstop pace of overseas platforms, according to brokerage sources cited by RBC Investments. The exchange is already holding talks with brokers about operating hours, account structures and deposit mechanics, and has begun limited testing of crypto deposits and withdrawals that would mirror Russia’s National Settlement Depository rather than giving users direct wallet control [1].

MOEX unveiled four new crypto indices—XRP, BNB, Solana and TRON—on the same week it announced the 24/7 ambition, raising its total benchmarks to six and signalling a roadmap toward ten digital assets. The indices are intended as the foundation for futures contracts slated for late 2026, which will initially be offered only to qualified investors under Russian regulations [1]. This rollout dovetails with a pending “Digital Currency and Digital Rights” law that passed its first reading in the State Duma and is set to take effect on July 1, imposing stringent listing requirements such as a two‑year average market cap above 5 trillion rubles and daily trading volume over 1 trillion rubles [1].

The push comes as Russia seeks to pull domestic traders back from foreign exchanges. By allowing regulated, ruble‑settled exposure to assets like XRP, MOEX gives Russian institutions a way to trade without the currency conversion and custodial risks of offshore platforms. The move follows the May 13 launch of an official MOEX XRP index and ruble‑settled futures, which immediately gave qualified investors a domestic avenue for XRP exposure and sparked a noticeable uptick in on‑chain accumulation, including new wallets and whale purchases [2].

If MOEX succeeds, the continuous market could reshape risk dynamics in Russia’s crypto space. While 24/7 trading eliminates weekend price gaps, it also shifts liquidity risk to off‑hours when market makers are scarce, a pattern observed in other regulated venues that have adopted nonstop trading [3]. How MOEX will manage those risks—and whether the new regulatory framework will attract enough volume to justify round‑the‑clock operations—remains the key question for Russia’s emerging digital asset ecosystem.