Sberbank to launch compliant crypto wallet by end of 2026

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, announced plans to introduce a crypto wallet and a digital‑asset depository in 2026. The rollout is tied to new Russian digital‑asset regulations that take effect on 1 September, with the wallet to be added to the bank’s mobile apps and the depository expected by 1 December.

First Deputy Chairman Kirill Tsarev said the schedule “depends on the final version of the legislation,” while Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov noted the bank’s earlier work on crypto‑backed lending. Sberbank aims to offer a compliant, custodial service that leverages its existing retail customer base, potentially expanding mainstream access to cryptocurrencies in Russia. Other major Russian banks, such as VTB and T‑Bank, are also preparing similar digital‑asset services.