Sberbank to Build Crypto Trading Platform, Depository by Dec 1

Public exchange trading will be limited to cryptocurrencies that meet Bank of Russia liquidity thresholds. The central bank set an average market capitalization above 5 trillion rubles ($64 billion) and an average daily volume above 1 trillion rubles ($12.8 billion) over two years. Qualified investors will have access to a broader range of assets. Crypto payments for goods and services inside Russia remain prohibited.

Sberbank already offered qualified investors structured bonds tied to bitcoin last year. It completed a bitcoin-backed lending pilot with miner Intelion Data in December.

Russia has been gradually bringing crypto into its regulated financial system. A 2024 law legalized mining and created an experimental regime for crypto-based cross-border settlements. The Bank of Russia widened access in 2025 by allowing qualified investors to buy crypto-linked financial products. It later proposed limited direct purchases for retail investors, subject to testing and an annual cap of 300,000 rubles per intermediary.