Moscow Exchange is set to launch new futures contracts allowing Russian investors to trade securities linked to Ethereum and long-term US bonds.
Futures on Ethereum
Moscow Exchange plans to begin trading futures on Ethereum (ETH) in August. The contract will be tied to the value of the BlackRock iShares Ethereum Trust ETF. Maria Patrikeeva, Managing Director of the exchange's derivatives market, stated that the contract quote will be equal to the price of one share of the fund, and its size will be slightly less than IBIT. Thus, the exchange continues to develop opportunities for investors in the Russian cryptocurrency market.
Futures on US Bonds
Moreover, the Moscow Exchange intends to launch futures on long-term US Treasury bonds based on the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF. These bonds have an average maturity of nearly 26 years. Patrikeeva noted that the current yield on these bonds is nearly 5%, given the recent increase in import duties. This will also be the first futures contract on the Moscow Exchange based on US debt securities.
Crypto Market in Russia
The launch of futures on Ethereum and US bonds follows the introduction of Bitcoin futures, which the Moscow Exchange initiated in early June. Market participants, including Russia’s largest bank Sber and broker Finam, have also started offering crypto-linked instruments. As of June 27, retail investors held open positions in Bitcoin futures totaling 1.25 billion rubles.
The introduction of new futures contracts is a significant step for the development of the Russian financial market, providing investors with new tools for trading in both the cryptocurrency space and the government bond market.
