Russian central bank allows exchanges to trade crypto from November 22
The regulator also requires exchanges to register brokers, trustees and central counterparties and to submit trading data to the central bank.
Key takeaways
- 1Exchanges can begin crypto trading from 22 November 2026
- 2They must register brokers, trustees and central counterparties and report data to the Bank of Russia
The Bank of Russia said Russian exchanges may start crypto trading from 22 November 2026, subject to prior approval of trading rules.
The directive, filed with the Ministry of Justice, obliges exchanges to register brokers, trustees and central counterparties as participants. They must keep order and transaction records, monitor activity and calculate spot, weighted‑average, market and closing prices. Exchanges also have to submit trading data and results to the central bank under existing reporting procedures for other assets.
The Bank of Russia is the country’s monetary authority and oversees all financial markets. In early November it approved retail trading of bitcoin, ether and tether, with Moscow Exchange planning a December launch. Extending permission to exchanges marks the next step in formalising crypto activity in Russia.
The move signals a regulatory push to bring crypto trading under the same oversight as traditional securities, which could encourage more institutional participation. Market participants will watch how quickly exchanges secure rule approval and register required participants. The timeline for the first exchange launch will indicate how quickly the new framework becomes operational.
Reported and edited by the YourKhabri desk under our editorial policy. Nothing here is investment advice.