Moscow Exchange plans to launch Bitcoin, Ether perpetual futures in September
The exchange is simultaneously expanding into perpetual futures linked to about 20 US stocks, targeting popular names such as Amazon, AMD, Tesla and Netflix.
Moscow Exchange (MOEX), Russia’s largest stock exchange, plans to roll out its first perpetual futures contracts on Bitcoin and Ethereum in September 2026, according to Maria Patrikeeva, managing director of the exchange’s derivatives market.
The developments come after MOEX launched its first perpetual contracts tied to SPY and QQQ ETFs earlier this month. The exchange sees the products as a potential driver of demand among Russian crypto traders who continue to use foreign platforms and face the associated currency, transaction and regulatory risks.
Unlike traditional futures, the planned perpetual contracts will have no fixed expiration date and will automatically roll forward each trading day. Patrikeeva said the products could also support arbitrage between the spot crypto and futures markets, especially if MOEX expands its offering of underlying digital assets.
The exchange currently has seven cash-settled crypto futures covering the Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, XRP and Tron indexes, alongside futures tied to IBIT and ETHA ETFs. The crypto-index contracts currently expire monthly, while ETF futures expire quarterly.
Beyond crypto, the exchange is also preparing about 20 perpetual futures tied to major US stocks, including Amazon, AMD, Tesla and Netflix. The contracts would use foreign-currency quotations but settle in Russian rubles, giving domestic investors exposure to movements in US equities without directly owning foreign shares or maintaining overseas accounts.
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The planned crypto derivatives expansion comes as Russia moves to bring digital asset activity under a comprehensive regulatory framework following the passage of a landmark bill regulating the circulation and trading of digital currencies.
The legislation, signed by President Vladimir Putin last month, is set to take effect Sept. 1, 2026.
Under the new framework, crypto transactions will be facilitated through licensed entities, while digital assets will remain prohibited as a payment method for domestic purchases. Businesses engaged in foreign trade, however, will be permitted to use digital assets for cross-border transactions.
Market participants will have until July 1, 2027, to comply with the new rules.