Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-owned financial institution, is exploring plans to issue crypto‑backed loans for both retail and corporate clients.
According to recent reports, bank executives are assessing methods that allow clients to obtain loans using acknowledged digital assets stored in custody on the bank’s online platform as collateral. Through automated margin restrictions, the initiative seeks to reduce exposure to price volatility while establishing a legal framework for crypto-collateralized lending.
The bank is researching stablecoins, tokenized precious metals, and high-liquidity cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum as acceptable collateral, according to internal conversations that local financial publications have quoted.
To facilitate immediate valuation and liquidation if collateral ratios fall below specific criteria, borrowers would lock assets into smart contracts using Sberbank’s blockchain technology.
The proposal follows the Bank of Russia’s gradual easing of its stance toward digital assets, which now permits limited investment exposure for unqualified investors and recognizes tokenized financial instruments as legitimate under certain conditions. Sberbank’s blockchain division already operates a licensed digital asset exchange and issues tokenized bonds, making crypto‑backed loans a logical next step.
Regulators Weigh Risks
Any deployment would require cooperation with the central bank, which monitors the relationship between digital assets and credit risk. Regulators want to ensure that the use of cryptocurrencies as collateral doesn’t compromise the stability of the financial system or enable uncontrolled international transfers.
To gather information on default risk, collateral volatility, and redemption procedures, Sberbank intends to trial the program in a controlled setting that restricts participation to verified users and business organizations.
By providing blockchain enterprises and IT corporations with access to liquidity without having to sell their digital reserves, the bank anticipates that the program will enhance rather than replace traditional financing.
If approved, Sberbank’s move could reshape how Russian lenders approach credit in an economy increasingly influenced by digital assets. Offering crypto‑backed loans would legitimize the concept of tokenized value in collateral management and may eventually influence smaller regional banks to adopt similar models.
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