Moscow Exchange adds 5 crypto perpetuals – Can 72K qualified investors deepen liquidity?

Moscow Exchange (MOEX) is expanding its crypto derivatives offering as demand for regulated digital-asset exposure grows in Russia.

From the 22nd of September, qualified investors will gain perpetual futures linked to Bitcoin [BTC], Ethereum [ETH], Solana [SOL], Ripple [XRP], and Tron [TRX] indices.

The change adds a new layer to a market that has already drawn more than 72,000 qualified investors since its first crypto futures launched last summer.

Since their launch, these instruments have seen volumes of over 600 billion Rubles, providing MOEX with an established client base to build on.

The announced perpetual contracts would continue to renew automatically daily. In turn, they don’t require a trader to close their position at the end of each trading day.

In terms of potential impact, the ability to participate in cryptocurrencies through derivative products may attract more liquidity into the derivatives market.

MOEX keeps crypto trading restricted

The professional-only structure could shape how deeply this market develops. Retail investors cannot access the contracts, leaving liquidity concentrated among qualified accounts.

This is despite Russia opening crypto trading to retail investors while retaining the crypto payment ban.

That concentration does provide some advantage in terms of large-scale institutional involvement. However, that concentration also provides a limit to the amount of potential trading volume.

In addition to qualified accounts being able to trade the contracts, brokers are also very important in attempting to bring additional qualified accounts into the contract.

Therefore, if broker participation grows, then MOEX may experience higher levels of derivative trading. This is without having opened crypto trading to retail investors. The 22nd of September launch will show whether existing professional demand can translate into deeper liquidity.

Can MOEX build deeper liquidity?

MOEX’s new cryptocurrency derivatives contracts could alter the way professional traders manage crypto exposure in Russia. Perpetuals make these products much more suitable for ongoing hedging and speculation. This is because they do not require the repetitive rollover of a position.

As such, this could increase trading activity on MOEX as opposed to causing investors to go overseas for similar trading activities. The impact, however, will be dependent upon the number of participants who choose to utilize MOEX’s new derivative product offerings.

Bitcoin and Ether could capture most early volume because they already have established demand. Stronger participation in Solana, XRP, and Tron would show that the market is expanding beyond just Bitcoin and Ether.

Rising open interest alongside sustained volume would point to deeper positioning. If activity fades after launch, the expansion may add products without materially increasing market depth.

Final Summary

• Moscow Exchange is expanding regulated crypto derivatives access.
• Sustained activity will determine whether the launch deepens market liquidity.