Sber begins testing crypto operations in Sberbank Online, plans December 1 launch
In short
Sber has begun testing cryptocurrency operations in its Sberbank Online app, with bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), USDT and other popular crypto assets available at the test stage, the bank said on October 8. It plans to offer such operations to all clients from December 1 in line with Russian law, though the exact timing depends on Bank of Russia regulations taking effect.
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Sber has begun testing cryptocurrency operations in its Sberbank Online app, the bank's press service told Vedomosti on October 8. According to a press release quoted by RIA Novosti, the bank is preparing to launch a service for buying, selling, depositing and withdrawing cryptocurrencies. Sber demonstrated how the retail service will work at the SberInvestitsii (СберИнвестиции) forum "Nastoyashchee – budushchee" (Настоящее – будущее). [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
At the test stage, operations with bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), the USDT stablecoin and other popular crypto assets are available, the outlets reported. iXBT wrote that clients can buy and sell these assets and also deposit and withdraw them during testing. Besides Sberbank Online, operations are to be available in SberInvestitsii and SberBiznes (СберБизнес), according to Vedomosti and iXBT. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
Sber plans to give all clients the ability to carry out cryptocurrency operations from December 1, in line with Russian law. The bank said the exact launch dates will depend on the relevant Bank of Russia regulations coming into force, and the final list of cryptocurrencies admitted to trading will be set by the central bank's secondary regulations. iXBT described the December 1 opening as conditional on the necessary rules being in force by then. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
On October 6, Sber became the first in Russia to enter the Bank of Russia's register of digital depositories; iXBT described the current testing as the next step in preparing the service for clients. Vedomosti reported that in July 2026 Sber said it intended to launch a digital depository for cryptocurrencies by December, and that first deputy chairman of the board Alexander Vedyakhin (Александр Ведяхин) had said the depository would record clients' rights to cryptocurrency and support transactions on active wallets. [ 1 , 5 ]
In September, Sber said it planned to let clients exchange permitted cryptocurrencies for roubles and store tokens in the digital depository, with wallets for digital currencies due to appear in SberInvestitsii, Vedomosti reported. On September 1, the bank launched international cryptocurrency settlements for corporate clients; transfers between crypto wallets take minutes and the average transaction cost is 0.3%, according to Vedomosti. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
Business, tech and state outlets all describe Sber preparing a retail crypto service whose scope, including which assets may be traded, will be set by the Bank of Russia. The launch date depends on regulator rules coming into force, the bank said.
Key facts
- Sber has begun testing cryptocurrency operations in Sberbank Online, the bank said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- At the test stage, operations with BTC, ETH, USDT and other popular crypto assets are available. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Sber plans to give all clients access to cryptocurrency operations from December 1, in line with Russian law. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The final list of cryptocurrencies allowed for trading will be set by Bank of Russia secondary regulations. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Exact launch timing will depend on the regulator's rules coming into force, the bank said. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Operations are also planned in the SberInvestitsii (СберИнвестиции) and SberBiznes (СберБизнес) services. [ 1 , 5 ]
- On October 6, Sber became the first in Russia to enter the Bank of Russia's register of digital depositories. [ 1 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Sber has started testing cryptocurrency operations in Sberbank Online. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Sber plans to open cryptocurrency operations to all clients from December 1. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- BTC, ETH, USDT and other popular crypto assets are available at the test stage. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The Bank of Russia will determine the final list of cryptocurrencies allowed for trading. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The bank demonstrated the retail service at the SberInvestitsii forum "Nastoyashchee – budushchee" (Настоящее – будущее). [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Sber entered the Bank of Russia's register of digital depositories on October 6, the first in Russia to do so. [ 1 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the December 1 launch will go ahead on schedule. The bank says exact timing depends on Bank of Russia regulations coming into force; iXBT says the service will open on December 1 only if the necessary rules are in effect by then.
- Which cryptocurrencies will ultimately be allowed for trading. The documents say the final list will be set by Bank of Russia secondary regulations, which are not described.
- Who has access to the service during the test stage. iXBT says clients can already buy, sell, deposit and withdraw crypto during testing; other outlets describe a demonstration and a service being prepared for launch, without saying who can use it now.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Vedomosti reports, citing Sber's press service, that the bank has started testing crypto operations in Sberbank Online. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports the test and the plan to give all clients access from December 1. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the test, quoting the bank's press release. [ 3 ]
- vc.ru reports the test in the mobile app and the December 1, 2026 target. [ 4 ]
- iXBT reports that buying and selling of cryptocurrency will appear in SberBank Online. [ 5 ]