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

Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, is planning to accept 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, stated that the bank would adapt its existing products to meet the new requirements and then expand its range of crypto-backed loans.

The demand for this service is driven by businesses, particularly miners and companies with significant crypto assets, who want to obtain liquidity without selling their digital currencies.

Sberbank has previously tested crypto collateral through a pilot transaction in December 2025, where the bank made a corporate loan to Russian mining operator Intelion Data using its own crypto storage system and Rutoken hardware device to safeguard the pledged asset.