Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, has begun testing cryptocurrency operations through its banking ecosystem as the lender prepares to offer crypto trading and custody services to its customers.
The bank said it is currently testing transactions involving Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) and other popular digital assets. The service is expected to become available to all Sberbank customers from December 1, 2026, provided the necessary regulatory rules are in place.
The planned rollout could give millions of Russian customers access to cryptocurrency without having to use a separate crypto exchange.
Crypto Trading Coming to Sberbank Apps
Sberbank plans to integrate the service into its existing platforms, including Sberbank Online, SberInvestments and SberBusiness.
Customers will be able to buy and sell supported cryptocurrencies, as well as deposit and withdraw digital assets. The bank is already testing the operations ahead of the planned public launch.
Sberbank had previously announced plans to establish cryptocurrency infrastructure and a digital depository as Russia developed a new legal framework for the digital-asset market. On October 6, the Bank of Russia added Sberbank to its register of approved digital depositories.
A digital depository provides regulated infrastructure for recording ownership of digital assets and processing transfers.
More Than 100 Million Potential Users
The scale of Sberbank's customer base makes the move significant for Russia's cryptocurrency market.
Sberbank has more than 100 million retail customers, meaning the bank's crypto services could potentially put regulated cryptocurrency access in front of one of the world's largest banking audiences.
However, that does not mean all of those customers will immediately be able to trade without restrictions. Russia's new rules distinguish between qualified and non-qualified investors.
Ordinary retail investors face an annual purchase limit of 300,000 rubles per intermediary and will only be permitted to purchase cryptocurrencies that meet regulatory requirements. Qualified investors will have access to a wider range of assets without the same annual limit.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT Among the Main Assets
Sberbank's current testing includes Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT.
The final list of cryptocurrencies available to ordinary investors will depend on rules issued by the Bank of Russia. The regulator has established liquidity and market requirements that digital assets must satisfy before being made available to the wider retail market.
Cryptocurrency will also remain prohibited as a means of paying for goods and services inside Russia under the current framework.
Russia Moves Toward Regulated Crypto Market
Sberbank's move comes as Russia transitions cryptocurrency activity from a largely restricted environment toward a regulated market.
A new law governing digital currencies and digital rights came into force on September 1, 2026, establishing a framework for cryptocurrency trading, custody and settlement through regulated financial infrastructure.
Other major Russian financial institutions are also moving into the market. VTB has received approval to operate in the crypto market and expects to offer trading access through its investment platform, while other financial companies have obtained registrations as crypto-exchange operators or digital depositories.
Sberbank's planned launch therefore places it at the centre of a broader shift in Russia's approach to digital assets.
A Potentially Major Crypto Market Shift
The launch could significantly increase the accessibility of cryptocurrency in Russia by bringing trading directly into an application that millions of people already use for everyday banking and investments.
Instead of opening an account with a dedicated cryptocurrency exchange, customers could potentially access digital assets through Sberbank's existing financial infrastructure.
For Sberbank, the move also represents an expansion into an asset class that has increasingly become part of Russia's financial and regulatory discussions.
The bank's target date is December 1, although Sberbank has stressed that the exact timing depends on the Bank of Russia's supporting regulations being ready.
If the rollout proceeds as planned, Sberbank could become one of the largest traditional banks in the world to bring regulated cryptocurrency trading directly to a mass retail customer base.
