Sberbank is preparing for crypto-backed loans.

Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, is preparing to offer cryptocurrency-backed loans.

Sberbank, as Russia's largest bank, is taking significant steps towards offering loans secured by cryptocurrency. The bank announced that it is ready to work with the central bank on a regulatory framework for this purpose.

Sberbank conducted a pilot implementation of this model by granting Russia's first bitcoin-backed loan to a significant miner, IntelionData, in January. It is currently also providing customers with structured bonds and digital assets linked to bitcoin and Ethereum.

With the planned program, the scope of cryptocurrency-backed loans will be expanded not only to miners but also to businesses holding digital assets. Thus, as Russia prepares to reopen the cryptocurrency market under new regulations, it also plans to develop comprehensive regulations by July 1, 2026.