Russia’s regulated crypto trading opens in December, with major players set to lead

Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender, and the Moscow Exchange will start regulated cryptocurrency trading on December 1, after Russia legalized crypto activities through a law that took effect September 1. MOEX plans to allow buying and selling of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether, the only three coins approved even for retail investors without special qualification status, from the start of its morning session. Sberbank said its service will let clients buy, sell, deposit and withdraw cryptocurrencies. The Bank of Russia has registered more than 20 organizations as cryptocurrency exchanges and custodians, including VTB, the country’s second-largest lender, as Moscow builds a tightly controlled market.