Sberbank

Sberbank has issued a pilot loan to a Russian miner secured by cryptocurrency collateral, marking a first for the bank and the country. The move is being framed as an early step toward closer integration of digital assets with traditional finance.

Sberbank may start offering loans secured by cryptocurrency after Russia’s central bank issued a regulatory roadmap for digital asset transactions. The plan, disclosed by a senior bank executive, could broaden institutional crypto services while raising questions about risk controls and compliance.

Sberbank has launched a pilot program using Ethereum-based DeFi and tokenization to respond to growing client demand for crypto exposure. The move tests on-chain tokenization, smart-contract settlement and regulated custody models.