Sberbank plans to launch a crypto trading infrastructure by December, creating a regulated framework for cryptocurrency transactions.
Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia, is preparing to develop a cryptocurrency trading infrastructure along with a digital depository, set to launch by December 1. This move aims to align cryptocurrency trading, custody, and settlement within a regulated financial environment.
New Regulatory Measures to Start in September
New regulations governing cryptocurrency trading and custody will come into effect on September 1. However, the requirements for transactions to be conducted through licensed intermediaries will not be enforced until July 2027.
According to Interfax, the planned depository will track clients’ cryptocurrency ownership and facilitate transactions outside the blockchain. Clients will also be provided with active wallets to manage deposits, withdrawals, and transfers.
This initiative follows the Federation Council's approval of legislation that regulates cryptocurrency activities through licensed brokers, exchanges, asset managers, and depositories. Trading on public exchanges will be restricted to cryptocurrencies that meet certain liquidity thresholds established by the Bank of Russia, which include a minimum market capitalization of 5 trillion rubles (about $64 billion) and a minimum daily trading volume of 1 trillion rubles (around $12.8 billion) over a two-year period.
While qualified investors will have access to a broader range of assets, cryptocurrency payments for goods and services remain prohibited within the country. In the previous year, Sberbank started offering structured bonds linked to bitcoin for qualified investors and tested a bitcoin-backed lending program with Intelion Data, a mining firm.
Russia is steadily integrating cryptocurrencies into its regulated financial ecosystem. Laws enacted in 2024 legalized cryptocurrency mining and established a framework for experimental cross-border transactions. The Bank of Russia further broadened access to crypto-linked financial products for qualified investors in 2025 and proposed limited direct purchases for retail investors, subject to annual testing limits.
