Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is preparing to build crypto trading infrastructure and launch a digital depository before Dec. 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 in the country.
The new depository system built by Sberbank will record all client crypto holdings while processing most of their transactions off the native blockchain network. To support the service, Sberbank will also operate active wallets to handle deposits, withdrawals, and transfers upon client requests.
Trillion-Ruble Liquidity Thresholds
The Russian government’s new rules take effect on Sept. 1, 2026, while mandatory transaction routing through licensed intermediaries will follow in July 2027. However, public exchange access will not be open to all coins. The Bank of Russia is limiting open trading strictly to cryptocurrencies that meet stringent liquidity criteria: maintaining an average market capitalization above 5 trillion rubles (around $64 billion) and posting daily trading volumes exceeding 1 trillion rubles (about $12.8 billion) consistently for two consecutive years.
These liquidity thresholds effectively bar the majority of smaller crypto assets from public markets. Access for ordinary retail investors is also restricted, with an annual transaction cap of 300,000 rubles per intermediary. Access to a broader selection of assets is reserved exclusively for qualified investors. Amid this regulatory opening for investments, Russian authorities continue to uphold their core prohibition: payments for goods and services using crypto within Russian territory remain strictly banned.
A Consistent Integration Pattern
Russia’s push to integrate crypto into the traditional financial system has progressed steadily since a 2024 law officially legalized mining activities in the country. For Sberbank, developing infrastructure later this year continues an established lineup of crypto offerings. The bank has been offering Bitcoin-linked structured bonds to its qualified investors since last year.
Last December, Sberbank completed 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 ahead of late 2026 underscores the evolving stance of Russian banking institutions, positioning digital assets as part of core banking operations as long as all asset flows remain under regulatory oversight.
Reported via 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.
