Sberbank Builds Out Crypto Trading Infrastructure in Russia

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, is building cryptocurrency trading infrastructure and launching a digital depository by December 1. This move comes as Russia brings crypto trading, custody, and settlement under its regulated financial system.

The plan follows the Federation Council's approval of a law regulating cryptocurrency trading through licensed brokers, exchanges, asset managers, and depositories. The framework is set to take effect on September 1, with rules requiring transactions to pass through licensed intermediaries applying from July 2027.

Public exchange trading will be limited to cryptocurrencies meeting Bank of Russia liquidity thresholds, including 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.