Overview
- Sberbank told reporters that it aims to roll out trading infrastructure and a digital depository by Dec. 1, 2026 to record client ownership and handle most transfers off the public blockchain.
- A new law approved by parliament will take effect on Sept. 1, 2026 and forces all crypto transactions through licensed brokers, exchanges, asset managers or depositories from July 1, 2027, giving firms time to secure licences.
- Under the Bank of Russia’s rules, only cryptocurrencies that meet very high liquidity tests — about 5 trillion rubles in market cap and 1 trillion rubles average daily volume over two years — will be allowed on public exchanges.
- Retail customers face tight limits: non‑qualified buyers must pass a knowledge test and may buy up to 300,000 rubles per year through a single intermediary, while qualified investors can access a wider set of assets.
- Sberbank’s move builds on earlier pilots, including bitcoin‑linked bonds and a bitcoin‑backed loan with miner Intelion Data, and signals that major banks are racing to occupy regulated on‑ramps before licensing rules are enforced.