Russia’s Sberbank Seeks Green Light for Crypto Custody Amid Regulatory Push

Key Points

1. Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-owned lender, plans to offer custody services for Russian crypto assets, allowing tokens to be frozen upon law enforcement requests.

2. The initiative aims to reduce transaction complexity and lower risks, providing both user protection and legal control over crypto assets.

3. Russia’s central bank has backed legislation allowing cryptocurrency use in cross-border trade, marking a shift from previous restrictions.

4. Gleb Zemskoy of Insight Finance emphasized the importance of domestic custodians as the 'backbone' of the digital economy, urging Russia to develop its own network.

5. Russian lawmakers have passed a digital ruble bill, with a planned rollout in September 2026, as part of efforts to introduce a central bank digital currency (CBDC).