Sberbank Sets December Deadline for Crypto Trading Infrastructure Launch

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, is making a significant move into cryptocurrency with a hard deadline to launch crypto trading infrastructure and a digital depository by December 1, 2026. This comes as Russia prepares to bring crypto trading, custody, and settlement under formal regulation.

The new regulatory framework takes effect on September 1, 2026, with licensing compliance required by July 1, 2027. Under the rules, both qualified and non-qualified investors will be able to buy cryptocurrency through regulated intermediaries, but public trading will be limited to cryptocurrencies meeting specific standards set by the Bank of Russia.

Sberbank's digital depository will record customers' cryptocurrency ownership and handle many transactions off-chain, outside public blockchain networks. The bank will also manage active wallets for deposits, withdrawals, and transfers to external addresses.