- Moscow Exchange launched futures for BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF IBIT, accessible only to accredited investors starting June 4.
- IBIT entered top 25 global ETFs with $72.4B assets; Russia’s banks now offer regulated crypto investment products.
Moscow Exchange (MOEX), Russia’s largest stock market, began trading futures tied to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) on June 4. This product is limited to accredited investors. MOEX will start qualification testing for participants on June 23.
The launch follows IBIT entering the top 25 global ETFs by asset size. IBIT holds $72.4 billion in assets, according to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas.
Russian financial institutions gained approval in May to offer cryptocurrency products to qualified investors. Since then, major banks like Sber and T-Bank introduced Bitcoin-linked investment options. The Bank of Russia maintains caution about direct crypto exposure. It continues advising against retail investor participation.
Retail traders expressed dissatisfaction with the new futures. One Telegram user called the product “a copy” of U.S. ETFs that “does not affect the crypto market.” Others preferred trading cryptocurrencies directly on platforms like Binance.
MOEX reported 36.9 million individual brokerage accounts as of May. About 3.6 million users traded on the exchange last month, including 315,000 qualified private investors.
BlackRock’s IBIT joined the ETF market in January 2024. It gathered $72.4 billion in assets within 17 months. Balchunas noted IBIT is the youngest ETF among the top 25, comparing its rapid growth to “an infant hanging out with teenagers.” The fund previously set records by attracting $15.5 billion in its first three months.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is trading at $59.78 USD, reflecting a −1.03% decline on the day. Over the past week, IBIT has dropped −2.86%, but maintains a strong +11.77% gain for the month and is up +8.97% year-to-date. Since its launch in early 2024, IBIT has delivered an overall return of +114.10%, cementing its position as the leading Bitcoin ETF in terms of growth and investor interest.
With $68.83 billion in assets under management (AUM) and more than $31.79 billion in inflows over the past year, IBIT continues to absorb institutional capital at an aggressive pace.
Despite current market turbulence, BlackRock’s fund remains the most traded Bitcoin ETF and has become a proxy for institutional Bitcoin exposure. The fund’s premium to NAV is almost negligible at 0.03%, reflecting healthy pricing efficiency.
Technically, IBIT is consolidating slightly below its recent high, mirroring Bitcoin’s pause near the $105K level. The ETF is still trading above key moving averages, and analysts are watching for a breakout above $62, which could push the next leg toward $68–$73. A drop below $58 could lead to a short-term correction, especially if Bitcoin retraces below $103K.
