Sberbank Sets December Deadline for Crypto Trading Infrastructure

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, is pushing into cryptocurrency trading infrastructure and digital depositories. By December 1, 2026, the bank plans to launch a system that will record customers' cryptocurrency ownership and handle many transactions off-chain. This move comes as Russia prepares to bring crypto trading, custody, and settlement under formal regulation.

The regulatory framework for crypto is set to take effect on September 1, 2026, with licensing compliance required by July 1, 2027. Under the new rules, both qualified and non-qualified investors will be able to buy cryptocurrency through regulated intermediaries, with some restrictions in place.

The bank's digital depository will manage active wallets for deposits, withdrawals, and transfers to external addresses. Sberbank has not yet named which cryptocurrencies its platform will support or disclosed fees, customer eligibility rules, and withdrawal limits.