Moscow Exchange Launches Five Virtual Asset Index Futures as BitMEX Shuts Down

Moscow Exchange will launch five virtual asset index perpetual futures contracts on September 22, with underlying assets including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, and Tron (TRX). The contracts, priced in USD but settled in Russian rubles, are for eligible investors only. Moscow Exchange reported over 72,000 qualified investors and cumulative trading volume exceeding 60 billion rubles since its first virtual asset futures product launch last summer.

The new perpetual futures differ from standard futures as they auto-roll and track index values rather than physical assets. BitMEX will shut down its exchange services at 1 p.m. KST (noon CST) on September 23, following a phased withdrawal process that began August 26. Existing positions will be forcibly liquidated, while users can still access accounts to view balances and withdraw funds until the shutdown.

BitMEX, founded in 2014, highlighted its introduction of 100x leverage Bitcoin perpetual swaps as a key milestone. The exchange’s closure aligns with previously announced plans for restricting new positions and ending trading services. Moscow Exchange's product targets qualified investors using ruble settlement, while BitMEX focuses on winding down existing user positions.