Russia’s biggest bank just quietly signaled that the country’s financial establishment is ready to treat crypto like a real asset class. Sberbank announced plans to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether’s USDT stablecoin as collateral for loans, pending final approval from the Central Bank of Russia.
The move hinges on new regulations set to take effect on September 1, 2026, which would formally allow digital assets to circulate within Russia’s regulated financial system. Sberbank’s Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov said the bank has already built the infrastructure needed and is ready to roll out adapted financial products once the rules go live.
Sberbank has been practicing for this moment
This isn’t Sberbank’s first foray into crypto-collateralized lending. Back in December 2025, the bank issued a Bitcoin-backed corporate loan to AO Intelion Data, a deal that served as a proof of concept for its proprietary custody solution.
Beyond lending, Sberbank is also preparing to launch crypto wallet and digital depository services by December 2026. These would give customers the ability to hold and manage digital assets directly through the bank’s existing platform, all within the framework of the incoming regulations.
