Major Russian Bank Opens Bitcoin-Backed Loans to the Public

Sovcombank announced it has begun offering Bitcoin-backed loans to individuals and legal entities, becoming the first large Russian financial institution to make such products broadly available.

While Sberbank issued Russia’s first crypto-collateralized loan to a mining company in December 2025, that initiative remains a narrowly scoped pilot rather than a public offering.

What stands out in this announcement is not the existence of crypto-collateralized credit itself, but who is offering it and to whom. For the first time, a major Russian bank is extending Bitcoin-backed loans beyond pilots and mining firms, opening the product to the general public under standard banking terms.

Loan Structure and Core Terms

The program is designed to let Bitcoin holders unlock liquidity without selling into volatile market conditions. Eligibility is limited to borrowers who can demonstrate legal ownership of their digital assets, aligning the product with existing contract law requirements.

Key terms include:

• Interest rate: The Central Bank of Russia’s key rate plus 7 percentage points, translating to approximately 23% as of February 2026.
• Collateral haircut: A 50% discount on pledged Bitcoin value, meaning borrowers can access credit equal to half of the asset’s market price.
• Loan duration: Repayment periods of up to two years.
• Eligible borrowers: Both individuals and legal entities.

By applying a substantial haircut, Sovcombank is explicitly building downside protection into the structure, reflecting Bitcoin’s price volatility rather than treating it as a conventional financial asset.

Market Conditions Behind the Launch

The timing coincides with a sharp drawdown in Bitcoin’s price. After reaching a peak near $125,000 in October 2025, Bitcoin had fallen to around $71,000 by February 2026. In this context, collateralized lending offers an alternative to forced liquidation for holders seeking liquidity during market stress.

From a legal standpoint, the product relies on the current Russian classification of cryptocurrency as “other property,”which allows digital assets to be used as collateral under existing civil law. This interim framework has been sufficient for banks to structure secured loans without waiting for bespoke crypto legislation.

Regulatory Trajectory and Industry Demand

A broader legal shift is already on the horizon. Russian authorities have signaled that a comprehensive framework is expected by July 1, 2026, which would formally recognize cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as “monetary assets.” Such a change would likely standardize custody, collateral, and enforcement rules, potentially lowering uncertainty for banks expanding crypto-linked products.

Industry demand has been a key catalyst. Russia’s mining sector has been actively pushing for access to institutional credit, with firms such as Intelion Data advocating for financing tools that do not require immediate asset sales to fund expansion.

Broader Implications

Sovcombank’s move signals a shift from experimental pilots toward normalized crypto-backed lending within Russia’s traditional banking system. Rather than treating Bitcoin exposure as an edge case, the bank is integrating it into standard credit products, albeit with conservative risk controls.

For now, the launch underscores how existing legal classifications can be leveraged to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets, even before a dedicated regulatory regime formally comes into force.

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