Sberbank to Accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether as Loan Collateral

Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, plans to allow Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether as loan collateral once new crypto rules take effect and the Bank of Russia permits these assets for public circulation. Anatoly Popov, deputy chairman of Sberbank's management board, outlined this plan in an interview with TASS.

Popov mentioned that Sberbank has tested using crypto as loan security in a pilot transaction with Russian mining operator Intelion Data in December 2025. The bank used its own crypto storage system and a Rutoken hardware device to safeguard the pledged asset during the loan.

The new regulation will take effect on September 1, and market participants have until July 1, 2027, to obtain licenses and bring their operations into compliance with the new rules. Sberbank's expansion plan is contingent on these conditions being met.