Sberbank Moves to Accept Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT as Collateral

• Sberbank is preparing Bitcoin-backed lending as Russia’s new crypto framework takes effect Sept. 1.
• Ethereum and USDT are expected to follow once cleared for public circulation.
• The bank has already tested crypto collateral through a corporate loan to mining company Intelion Data.
• The model could give miners and companies liquidity without requiring immediate crypto sales.

Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is preparing to expand crypto-backed lending under rules taking effect Sept. 1, initially building on its experience with Bitcoin collateral. Ethereum and Tether’s USDT are also planned once the Bank of Russia clears them for public circulation, bringing three of the market’s largest digital assets closer to conventional banking.

Sberbank Has Already Tested the Lending Model

The bank entered crypto-backed lending before the broader regulatory framework was finalized.

In late 2025, Sberbank issued a pilot corporate loan to Russian crypto-mining company Intelion Data, with mined cryptocurrency pledged as collateral. The value of the loan was not disclosed.

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