Sberbank Prepares to Accept Bitcoin as Loan Collateral

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, is set to accept Bitcoin as loan collateral once the country's new digital asset law takes effect on September 1, 2026.

This was announced by deputy chairman Anatoly Popov, who told TASS that the bank will first adapt its existing lending products to the new legal framework and then gradually widen its digital asset offerings.

Sberbank has already gained experience with crypto-backed loans, having closed a pilot corporate loan in December 2025 using self-mined cryptocurrency as collateral for Intelion Data, a Russian mining firm.

The bank's plan is to start with Bitcoin-backed loans and then include Ethereum and USDT once the Bank of Russia formally permits their public circulation, which has not yet been met.