Sberbank Projects $46 Billion in Crypto Trading Volumes as Russia Implements New Digital Asset Regulations
Russia's largest bank, Sberbank (SBER.ME), anticipates significant growth in crypto trading volumes following the implementation of new digital asset regulations. Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov estimates that trading could reach up to $46 billion by year-end and rise further to around $87 billion by 2029. The bank plans to expand its lending services to include Ethereum (ETH-USD) and Tether's USDT as collateral, following a Bitcoin-backed loan pilot with mining firm Intelion in December 2025. The new regulations, which took effect on September 1, establish rules for crypto trading but maintain a ban on using digital assets for domestic payments. The Bank of Russia has also outlined eligible public-trading assets based on market capitalization and liquidity criteria, including Bitcoin (BTC-USD), Ethereum, and USDT. Sberbank's strategy reflects strong demand in the current high-interest-rate environment, where crypto miners seek to maintain exposure while securing credit.
Topics: banking regulations crypto trading loans Russia