Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is preparing to build crypto trading infrastructure and launch a digital depository before December 1, 2026. The move comes right after the Federation Council approved new legislation regulating all crypto trading activities through licensed brokers, exchanges, asset managers, and depositories across the country.
The new depository system built by Sberbank will record all client crypto holdings while processing most of their transactions outside the native blockchain network. To support the service, Sberbank will also operate an active wallet handling deposits, withdrawals, and transfers upon client instruction.
Trillion-Ruble Liquidity Threshold
The Russian government’s new rules take effect on September 1, 2026, with mandatory execution through licensed intermediaries following in July 2027. However, access to public exchanges will not be open to every coin. The Bank of Russia is limiting public trading strictly to cryptocurrencies that pass stringent liquidity criteria: maintaining an average market capitalization above 5 trillion rubles (equivalent to $64 billion) and recording daily trading volumes exceeding 1 trillion rubles (roughly $12.8 billion) continuously over two years.
This liquidity threshold effectively excludes the majority of smaller crypto assets from the public market. Access for ordinary retail investors is also restricted, with an annual transaction cap of 300,000 rubles per intermediary. The option to trade a broader list of assets is granted exclusively to qualified investors. Amid this regulatory opening for investment, Russian authorities are maintaining one foundational ban: payments for goods and services using cryptocurrencies within Russian territory remain prohibited.
A Continuous Pattern of Integration
Russia’s push to integrate crypto into its regular financial system has progressed steadily since a 2024 law officially legalized mining operations in the country. For Sberbank, developing infrastructure by the end of this year is an extension of a broader suite of crypto products already in development. The bank has been offering Bitcoin-linked structured bonds to its qualified investors since last year.
Last December, Sberbank finalized a pilot project for a Bitcoin-backed lending facility in partnership with mining firm Intelion Data. The rollout of a crypto exchange and digital depository toward late 2026 underscores a shift in how Russian banking institutions operate. They are positioning digital assets as part of core banking operations, as long as all asset flows remain within the direct purview of regulatory authorities.
Reported by CoinDesk.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
