TL;DR
Sberbank received authorization from the Bank of Russia to trade cryptocurrencies and is preparing to launch Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT trading services.
The bank plans to begin offering these services on December 1 through its digital platforms, although the final launch date will depend on additional regulatory requirements.
Russia now has ten authorized cryptocurrency exchanges and six custodians operating under central bank supervision.
Sberbank , Russia’s largest bank, has received authorization from the Bank of Russia to trade cryptocurrencies and is preparing to launch trading services for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT) in December.
The bank appears in the regulator’s updated register, which now includes ten authorized cryptocurrency exchanges and six digital asset custodians . A week earlier, the lists included four exchanges and five custodians.
Other registered institutions include VTB , another major Russian bank, and companies such as T-Invest Lab and Atomyze .
Sberbank Prepares to Launch Its Crypto Services
The bank plans to begin offering cryptocurrency trading on December 1, 2026 , through its SberBank Online, SberInvestments, and SberBusiness platforms.
According to Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Sberbank has already begun testing cryptocurrency purchases, sales, deposits, and withdrawals through its SberBank Online app.
However, the bank clarified that the final launch date will depend on additional regulations issued by the Bank of Russia .
The authorization to operate as a cryptocurrency exchange follows Sberbank’s earlier registration as a digital asset custodian .
Russia Expands Oversight of Crypto Companies
The new authorizations were granted under Russia’s regulatory framework, which took effect on September 1, 2026 .
The regulations require cryptocurrency exchange operators and custody providers to register and operate under the supervision of the Bank of Russia .
The number of authorized exchange operators increased from four to ten in one week, while the number of approved custodians rose from five to six.
Despite the expansion of financial services involving digital assets, Russia continues to prohibit the use of cryptocurrencies to pay for goods and services .
Sberbank will be able to offer cryptocurrency trading and custody services under the new framework, but customers will have to wait for the planned December launch and the publication of additional regulations by the central bank.
