Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has set a firm target of December 1, 2026 to make its cryptocurrency trading infrastructure operational, according to statements from the bank’s First Deputy Chairman Alexander Vedyakhin. The plan moves the state-backed lender from broad intentions to a concrete near-term deadline, signaling an active buildout of systems that will allow users to buy, sell, and settle digital assets through the bank.
The initiative follows the State Duma’s approval on July 21 of the “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights” bill, which now awaits Federation Council review and President Vladimir Putin’s signature. Once enacted, the main provisions would take effect on September 1, 2026, creating a licensed regime for crypto exchanges, brokers, custodians, and digital depositories under Bank of Russia supervision. Sberbank’s timetable slots its infrastructure to go live three months after that regulatory framework begins.
A centerpiece of the infrastructure is a digital depository that will record clients’ cryptocurrency rights and process transactions off the main blockchain, while also executing transfers on active wallets. Vedyakhin noted that “a large number of bylaws” still need to be developed, including depository rules, accounting standards, and licensing for new types of intermediaries, and that Sber is ready to continue sharing its expertise.
Sberbank has progressively deepened its digital asset footprint. It entered Russia’s register of information system operators in 2022, enabling participation in the digital financial asset (DFA) market. In 2025, it sold qualified investors structured bonds and DFAs linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and multi-coin baskets, and completed a trial of crypto-backed loans in December 2025. The upcoming trading infrastructure expands that foundation into a full market-access suite.
The new legal framework imposes a two-year grace period for market participants to obtain licenses, allowing them to operate until July 1, 2027 while completing the process. Retail non-qualified investors will face an annual purchase cap of about 300,000 rubles (~$3,800), while qualified investors remain unlimited. Although cryptocurrencies cannot be used for everyday domestic payments, narrow exceptions permit foreign trade settlements, mining-related proceeds, and certain securities transactions.
This concrete timeline from a major state-backed bank could reshape how digital assets are accessed in Russia, where sanctions have complicated cross-border transactions. The announcement shifts the narrative from “if” to “when and how”—even as the December 1 date remains a stated target that could slip until formally confirmed.
