🏦 Sberbank plans to accept Bitcoin and Ethereum as loan collateral
Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, plans to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether as collateral for loans, deputy chairman Anatoly Popov announced Friday. The bank will use crypto as security rather than as payment—a crucial distinction in Russia's new regulatory framework.
The move comes as Russia's digital currency law takes effect September 1, which bans crypto payments within the country. The Bank of Russia has already approved only three cryptocurrencies for circulation: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT. Sberbank's collateral program remains conditional on further central bank approvals and no launch date has been set.
With Russia's key rate at 14%, crypto-backed lending offers borrowers an alternative to expensive traditional financing. However, the arrangement carries risks: if borrowers default, Sberbank must liquidate assets in a market where spending them is illegal.
💰 BTC $78,993 (+0.96% in 24h) | ETH $2,509 (+2.24% in 24h) …
August 30, 2026 103 1
