Sberbank Sets December 1 Deadline for Crypto Trading Infrastructure Launch

Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, is pushing forward with its plans to launch crypto trading infrastructure. According to Kirill Tsarev, First Deputy Chairman, the bank aims to activate a suite of services by December 1, 2026.

The infrastructure will include a crypto wallet and digital depository within Sberbank's retail and investment platforms, contingent on Russia's long-awaited crypto legislation. The plan is for these services to appear inside Sberbank Online, the bank's flagship app, and SberInvestments, its brokerage platform.

The infrastructure is designed to provide custody, routing, and settlement for digital assets, rather than serving as a standalone consumer trading app at launch. Sberbank could eventually act as an intermediary for Russian clients trading on foreign crypto exchanges, though this role depends on both domestic and foreign regulatory approvals.