Russia’s largest bank Sberbank secures approval to trade crypto
Sberbank plans to open crypto trading to all clients Dec. 1 and is already testing BTC, ETH and USDT trades in its app.
Russia's leading bank, Sberbank, has obtained authorization to facilitate cryptocurrency trading for Bitcoin, Ether and Tether USDt. The country's central bank granted the approval in its updated register, dated Tuesday, which now lists 10 authorized crypto exchange operators and six digital custodians. Sberbank, Russia's largest lender, had previously announced its intent to launch crypto products on Dec.
1, 2026, through its SberBank Online, SberInvestments and SberBusiness platforms. The bank has already started testing crypto transactions via its SberBank Online app, as reported by Russian business newspaper Vedomosti on Thursday, citing the bank's press office. The final launch date hinges on further central bank regulations.
These registrations come after the September 1 implementation of Russia's new crypto rules, which now subject exchange operators and custodians to central bank supervision. Nevertheless, Russia continues to ban the use of cryptocurrencies for purchasing goods and services. Sberbank was one of the first firms to secure digital custodian status last Tuesday.
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