DECISION ON BITCOIN FROM THE MOSCOW STOCK EXCHANGE

The Moscow Exchange (MOEX) announced that it will begin calculating and publishing the Bitcoin index starting from June 10, 2025. This decision represents a significant step in Russia's approach to digital assets, paralleling the increasing role of cryptocurrencies in international trade (Anadolu Agency, 2025). The index calculations will be based on data obtained from leading cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, OKX, and Bitget (Hurriyet, 2025).

MOEX had previously started offering Bitcoin futures to qualified investors. The decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2024 had legally paved the way for the experimental use of cryptocurrencies in international payments and Forex transactions (Diken, 2024). As the popularity of cryptocurrencies increases in Russia due to sanctions from Western countries, Russian companies have also started using cryptocurrencies for international payments (Bloomberg HT, n.d.).

These developments indicate the growing interest in the integration of cryptocurrencies into Russia's financial markets.