Sberbank Considers Crypto-Backed Loans as Russia Moves Toward Regulated Trading

Highlights:

• Sberbank will offer loans secured by cryptocurrency for investors.
• Deputy Chairman Popov confirmed collaboration with regulators on crypto services.
• Moscow and St. Petersburg Exchanges are also ready for crypto trading.

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is moving closer to offering crypto-backed loans as the country prepares new digital asset rules expected by mid-2026. This shift indicates the bank is expanding from basic crypto trading to broader financial services. 

Sberbank Plans to Grow Crypto Services with Regulators’ Support

Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov said that Sberbank is ready to work with regulators to develop the infrastructure for such services. He also expressed hope that the bank would be able to announce these deals soon, but mentioned that progress depends on regulatory clarity.

Popov also noted that Sberbank is continuing to expand financing through its digital asset platform. Since January, the bank has launched over 160 digital financial asset issues, including Russia’s first tokens for real estate and oil. “Cryptocurrency market regulation in Russia is still in its infancy, and we are ready to participate in developing relevant solutions and creating the infrastructure to launch such services, together with the regulator,” Anatoly Popov emphasized. 

Russia Opens Crypto Market for Retail Investors Under New Rules

The banker’s comments came after the Central Bank of Russia released key points of its new crypto regulation plan, as Crypto2Community reported. The plan introduces major changes to Moscow’s approach to digital money. Stablecoins and cryptocurrencies will now be recognized as “currency assets.”

Under the Bank of Russia’s proposal, retail investors would be allowed to invest in cryptocurrency, but with strict limits. The draft law sets an annual cap of 300,000 rubles for retail investors, and they must use licensed intermediaries for transactions.

Only highly liquid tokens, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, would be available to individual investors. Retail investors would not be allowed to make payments using cryptocurrencies in Russia, as crypto is considered a high-risk asset. These limits aim to protect investors from excessive risk while still letting them benefit from potential gains in the crypto market.

Russian Exchanges Prepare for Regulated Crypto Trading as Putin Considers Bitcoin Mining

Recently, Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Exchange confirmed that they are ready for regulated crypto trading starting July 1, 2026. Their statements in December came after the Bank of Russia released a detailed regulatory concept, which outlined timelines and enforcement mechanisms for the new crypto law. 

Moscow Exchange said it is actively working on solutions to support the cryptocurrency market. St. Petersburg Exchange noted that it already has the necessary technological infrastructure for trading and settlements. These steps indicate that the market is preparing for formal legalization and oversight.

Moreover, according to Kommersant, President Putin said Russia and the U.S. are discussing using the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’s extra electricity for Bitcoin mining. The plant produces more energy than the local area needs.