Sberbank Bitcoin-backed Loan Marks Russia's First Institutional Crypto Move

Russia's largest state-owned bank is now taking bitcoin as collateral. According to reports from CoinDesk and RBC, Sberbank issued its first-ever crypto-backed loan on December 29, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the integration of digital assets into the nation's traditional banking system.

The Sberbank Bitcoin-backed Loan: A Pilot for the Future

The transaction was facilitated for Intelion Data, one of Russia's largest bitcoin mining firms. To secure the loan, Sberbank utilized its proprietary crypto custody tool, Rutoken, ensuring the safety of the collateralized assets. While the specific loan amount wasn't disclosed, the bank described it as a pilot transaction with high potential for future scaling.

Anatoly Popov, Deputy Chairman of Sberbank, revealed that the bank is already exploring decentralized finance (DeFi) instruments. The institution currently offers clients structured bonds and digital financial assets (DFAs) tied to bitcoin and ether. Popov emphasized the bank's support for the gradual legalization of cryptocurrencies within Russia's legal framework.

Bridging Mining and Banking

Timofey Semenov, CEO of Intelion Data, stated that this loan serves as a practical blueprint for the industry. By leveraging their mined bitcoin as collateral, mining operations can secure liquidity for expansion without liquidating their holdings. This model could potentially be scaled across the entire Russian mining sector.