Sberbank Tests Bitcoin, Ether and USDT Trading in Banking App

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has begun testing Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Tether’s USDT trading through its Sberbank Online app, opening a potential route for crypto access through a major banking platform.

The pilot includes buying and selling digital assets as well as deposits and withdrawals. The pilot remains limited, while broader customer access is planned for Dec. 1, 2026, subject to the relevant regulatory framework taking effect.

Sberbank plans to broaden access from Dec. 1, 2026, if the relevant regulatory framework takes effect. The planned service is also expected to reach SberInvestments and SberBusiness, extending the proposed offering to investment users and business customers.

The test follows the Bank of Russia’s admission of Sberbank as a digital depository on Oct. 6 under Russia’s developing digital-currency market framework. The regulator also admitted other digital depositories and cryptocurrency-exchange organizations, creating a broader institutional route for digital-asset services.

Dec. 1 is the next stated milestone for wider availability, but the rollout remains conditional on the regulatory framework.