Sberbank Crypto Exchange Secures Bank of Russia Authorization for December Launch

Sberbank was added to the official Bank of Russia register of organizations permitted to exchange digital currencies on October 12, 2026. The move gives Russia’s largest bank formal approval to operate a Sberbank crypto exchange platform starting December 1, 2026, subject to final regulatory sign-off.

Sberbank Crypto Exchange Authorization Details and Dual Registration

The Bank of Russia decision was published on the regulator’s website and reported by Interfax. Sberbank joins roughly nine or ten entities on the exchange register, including VTB and T-Invest Lab. The bank had already been listed on the separate digital depository register on October 6, 2026, creating dual authorization for both trading and custody of digital currencies and related rights.

Initial products will be offered through existing channels such as SberBank Online, SberInvestments and SberBusiness. Trading, deposits and withdrawals are already under internal testing. Permitted assets at launch include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether USDT. The exact scope of services remains dependent on secondary regulations still under development by the central bank.

Sberbank is one of a limited number of institutions holding both exchange and depository authorizations. The Bank of Russia maintains oversight of all registered operators and determines which assets may be offered to clients.

Regulatory Framework and Investor Limits Under Russia Digital Currency Law

Russia’s law on digital currencies and digital rights took effect September 1, 2026. It replaced an earlier proposal to ban crypto activities and established a supervised regime with the Bank of Russia as the primary regulator. Domestic payments for goods and services with crypto remain prohibited, though limited cross-border exceptions exist.

Retail investors classified as non-qualified face an annual purchase limit of 300,000 rubles per intermediary. They must also complete a mandatory knowledge and suitability test. Qualified investors operate without the cap. The central bank continues to set the list of permitted assets and can adjust rules as the market develops.

From July 2027 all crypto transactions must pass through registered intermediaries, ending the current unregulated peer-to-peer channels. Additional operators are expected to appear on the official registers in coming months, expanding the range of licensed platforms available to Russian users.

Next Steps for Sberbank Crypto Exchange Rollout

Sberbank has indicated that the December 1 target depends on the Bank of Russia completing necessary secondary regulations in time. If the timeline holds, the bank will become one of the first major institutions to offer crypto services under the new framework through its established mobile and web interfaces.

Market participants are monitoring whether the central bank will expand the list of approved assets or adjust investor thresholds once initial operations begin. The regulator has not announced further additions to the exchange register as of October 20, 2026.