Sberbank Expands Lending Services with Crypto-Backed Loans

Russia's largest lender, Sberbank, is preparing to expand its lending services by accepting digital assets as collateral. The bank expects Bitcoin to remain central in this new strategy, while Ethereum and Tether may be added later with regulatory approval.

Sberbank's deputy chairman, Anatoly Popov, confirmed that the bank has already gained practical experience working with cryptocurrency through a previous pilot involving a mining company. He stated that the bank will adapt its existing products as the new digital asset framework comes into force and plans to expand the range of eligible collateral gradually.

The proposed model would allow corporate borrowers to pledge their digital assets while receiving conventional financing, avoiding the need to sell their crypto holdings immediately. Sberbank is also developing custody services to support institutional use of crypto within regulated banking channels.