Sberbank Projects 4 Trillion Rubles in Crypto and Prepares ETH and USDT Loans

Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, projects 4 trillion rubles—approximately $46,000 million—in cryptocurrency trading volume during its first year of operation, according to statements reported by the state-backed news agency TASS and detailed by criptoperiodico.com. The bank is simultaneously preparing to launch credit products backed by Ethereum and Tether (USDT), pending formal regulatory approval.

Russian Crypto Market Could Reach 7.5 Trillion Rubles

The projected 4 trillion rubles in first-year trading volume functions as an internal forecast rather than a finalized baseline. Anatoly Popov, the bank’s vice president, stated that the operativa con criptomonedas could reach these figures while the entity prepares the terrain for credit products. Coinwatcher.news reported that Anatoly Popov, the bank’s vice president, anticipates the Russian crypto market could expand to roughly 7.5 trillion rubles—about $87,000 million—by 2029 under incoming statutory guidelines. Popov qualified these predictions as conservative because a significant portion of operations could continue occurring through services remaining outside formal markets. Sberbank expects the operational volume to reach roughly $46,430 million during the first year under the new rules.

Those projections remain tied to legislative implementation schedules. Coinwatcher.news noted that Russia’s new cryptocurrency framework is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1, 2026, following legislation signed by Vladimir Putin. The rules establish a framework for trading, custody, and cross-border crypto payments, although Russia maintains the prohibition on using digital assets as a payment medium for acquiring goods and services domestically. Professional market participants face a transition deadline of July 1, 2027, to secure required licenses under the revised rules.

Sberbank Plans to Accept Ethereum and USDT Collateral

Beyond trading operations, Sberbank plans to expand its collateralized lending products to accept Ethereum and USDT alongside Bitcoin. Criptoperiodico.com reported that these credit offerings remain dependent on final regulatory clearance from the Central Bank of Russia before any terms or launch dates become official. Popov noted that the bank plans to accept BTC, ETH, and USDT once the Bank of Russia officially authorizes these assets for public circulation.

The central bank’s preliminary drafts for public circulation limit eligible assets to tokens meeting strict liquidity and market history criteria. Coinwatcher.news stated that only Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT successfully cleared the initial regulatory screening, leaving out other prominent digital assets such as XRP. The criteria evaluate factors such as market capitalization, trading volume, and possessing at least five years of price history.

Sberbank Tested Bitcoin Backed Loans with Intelion

Sberbank’s entry into digital asset lending builds upon previous testing. Coinwatcher.news reported that the institution executed a pilot program for Bitcoin-backed loans in December 2025 in cooperation with the mining firm Intelion, allowing the bank to test how cryptocurrencies function as collateral within credit operations.

The impetus for utilizing digital assets as collateral is reinforced by domestic monetary conditions. Coinwatcher.news noted that Russia’s benchmark interest rate sits near 14%, driving corporate borrowers and mining operators to seek crypto-backed liquidity options that avoid asset liquidation.