Sberbank, Russia's largest lender, has received central bank approval to trade cryptocurrencies and plans to launch Bitcoin, Ether and Tether USDt products on December 1, 2026, through SberBank Online, SberInvestments and SberBusiness. It has already tested crypto buying, selling, deposits and withdrawals in its app, but the final launch timing depends on further central bank regulations. The central bank's updated register now lists 10 authorized crypto exchange operators and six digital custodians, up from four and five a week earlier, including VTB, T-Invest Lab and Atomyze. These moves follow new crypto rules that took effect on September 1, placing exchanges and custodians under central bank oversight, although Russia still bans using cryptocurrencies to pay for goods and services.
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