Sberbank Added to Bank of Russia's Crypto Exchange Register

Sberbank has been added to the Bank of Russia’s register of crypto exchange organizations, a development that brings the financial institution closer to launching its cryptocurrency trading services. This inclusion permits Sberbank to engage in buying and selling digital currencies on its own account, operating outside of organized trading as defined by the central bank.

The move follows Sberbank’s earlier placement on the Bank of Russia’s separate register of digital depositories. Sberbank and VTB are currently the only two firms that appear on both of these regulatory lists. A digital depository is responsible for maintaining records of clients’ cryptocurrency holdings, facilitating transfers between them, and providing access to the addresses where these assets are stored.

Firms were able to apply for inclusion on both the crypto exchange and digital depository registers starting October 5. The Bank of Russia made its initial additions to these registers on October 6, including four crypto exchange organizations and five digital depositories. Among the first entities listed for crypto exchange operations were VTB, T-Invest Lab (part of T-Technologies, which also owns T-Bank), Zefir, and Sistema-Crypto.

Subsequently, on October 8, the non-bank credit organization FinPilot and Professional Bank were added to the crypto exchange list. Moi Bitcoin and the Kirov-based lender Khlynov joined the same register on October 9. Sberbank and Paradise Technology were the most recent additions to the crypto exchange register, joining on Monday. On the same day, the digital depository list expanded to six firms with the addition of TT.

The Bank of Russia stated that the initial nine entities admitted to these registers were processed under the transitional provisions of Russia’s law on digital currencies and digital rights, which came into effect on September 1. Registered firms are required to adhere to the central bank’s regulations for cryptocurrency transactions from their respective listing dates. The deadline for full compliance with the law is set for September 1, 2027.

Sberbank has been active in the digital asset space, having secured a license to issue and exchange digital assets in March 2022. Since 2025, the bank has been involved in selling structured bonds and digital financial assets linked to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). In December 2025, Sberbank also completed a pilot program for loans collateralized by cryptocurrency.

On July 24, Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of Sberbank, indicated the bank’s intention to develop crypto trading infrastructure and a digital depository, with a target launch date of December 1. This announcement followed the State Duma’s passage of the crypto law in its third reading, which occurred three days prior.

Sberbank applied for depository status on the very first day that applications were accepted. The bank has announced that its initial cryptocurrency offerings will support Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT). These services are planned to be integrated directly into existing Sberbank platforms, including SberBank Online, SberInvestments, and SberBusiness, without the need for a separate application.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: Sberbank joined the Bank of Russia’s register of crypto exchange organizations on Monday, bringing the list to ten firms.

Why This Matters

Sberbank’s addition to the Bank of Russia’s register of crypto exchange organizations signifies a step towards offering digital currency trading services. This dual registration, alongside its presence on the digital depository register, positions Sberbank as one of the few entities prepared to operate within Russia’s evolving digital asset regulatory framework. The bank aims to launch these services by December 1, supporting key cryptocurrencies within its existing banking platforms.