As Russia moves to establish a comprehensive digital assets framework this year, the country’s largest commercial bank, Sber, is working to offer corporate loans backed by cryptocurrency, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a representative from the bank.
According to Sberbank, the upcoming offering is driven by robust demand from corporate clients. The bank is reportedly ready to collaborate with the country’s central bank to formulate the necessary regulatory framework.
According to Reuters, Sber plans to serve crypto-mining firms and other corporate entities that hold cryptocurrencies.
The lending plans follow a pilot transaction finalized in December 2025. The bank issued the country’s first Bitcoin-backed loan to one of its largest Bitcoin miners, AO Intelion Data. As part of the deal, Intelion Data pledged its self-mined Bitcoin as collateral. Sber used its own crypto custody product, Rutoken, to hold the BTC during the loan term. The bank did not disclose the loan amount.
Sberbank has expanded its exposure to digital assets by offering customers structured bonds and digital financial products tied to Bitcoin and Ether, according to Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov. Speaking during the announcement of the trial loan, Popov revealed that the state-owned Moscow-based lender is also experimenting with decentralized finance (DeFi) instruments and backs a gradual approach to legalizing cryptocurrencies within Russia’s regulatory framework.
Sberbank is following competitor Sovcombank, which was the first Russian bank to launch crypto-backed lending to individuals and companies legally holding Bitcoin.
Other global institutions, such as Wells Fargo, already offer specialized credit lines that include crypto assets as part of collateral. Reports last year also indicated that JPMorgan was preparing to allow its institutional clients to pledge Bitcoin and Ether as loan collateral for loans.
Cryptocurrencies have become increasingly important to Russia’s economy and international trade as harsh Western sanctions restrict transactions in major global currencies following its attack on Ukraine.
