Moscow Exchange, Russia's largest exchange group, announced today that it will offer Bitcoin futures contracts to qualified investors. While traditional financial institutions are entering the Bitcoin sector, small-scale investors may be excluded.
For example, Russia experienced a surge in demand for cryptocurrency mining equipment led by individuals last year. However, the country passed mining restrictions in December instead of supporting the industry.
Putin's Bitcoin Vision Differs from Trump's
Local media has reported on this new Bitcoin futures offering. This is a significant milestone in cryptocurrency adoption in Russia. The offering is traded in dollars per lot, with settlements processed in rubles.
Moscow Exchange also began offering Bitcoin-linked bonds this week with Sberbank, another major financial institution. Both companies only provide these products to qualified investors.
Over the past few months, Russia has been relaxing its policies on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The government is accepting cryptocurrencies to counter sanctions and reduce dollar dominance, and is also encouraging similar policies among economic partners.
These moves have led to the central bank's plans to launch an exchange, which has also begun offering cryptocurrency derivatives.
However, the central bank also only provides these products to qualified investors. While the Russian government is interested in Bitcoin, these developments do not prioritize everyday individuals.
There are many stories about Russian cryptocurrency criminals, but where are the mass adoption cases?
For example, Russia's Bitcoin mining equipment demand tripled in 2024, with individual miners leading much of this activity.
By the end of the year, the central government announced new restrictions, implementing a six-year ban in several regions. Instead of supporting these businesses, they were suppressed.
Additionally, these three Russian banking institutions all share a common theme: none of them allow direct Bitcoin custody.
Qualified investors can purchase exposure to cryptocurrencies and be compensated in fiat currency, but they cannot actually participate in the Web3 industry. What can this tell us?
Russia just tied its national financial system to Bitcoin without using U.S.-controlled rails.
— MDB (@MDBitcoin) June 2, 2025
this is state-level power projection via proof-of-work
an early move in the global hash war.
It signals that Bitcoin is being weaponized as a sovereign cyber-defense tool.
Other… pic.twitter.com/WxRheu7yRv
Russia clearly recognizes the advantages of Bitcoin, but the government shows a willingness to control it strictly. While the United States pursues a laissez-faire attitude towards the Web3 industry and China maintains a strict approach, Russia's approach is quite different.
By doing so, Russia can highlight a new path for its government's Bitcoin policy. Even if successful, these ideas directly contradict the decentralization spirit at the core of cryptocurrencies.
The community should not uncritically accept this traditional financial adoption. It could cause serious damage in the long term.
