Russia’s Sberbank to Accept Ethereum, USDT as Crypto Loan Collateral

Crypto is getting more recognition in Russia beyond trading. In the country’s latest development, Sberbank is preparing to expand its crypto-backed lending services, bringing new digital assets into effect. Now, in addition to Bitcoin, the bank is accepting Ethereum and Tether’s USDT as collateral for loans.

Ethereum and USDT enter Sberbank’s crypto loan services

Local reports reveal new developments in the Russian crypto market. Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, is now planning to include Ethereum and USDT in its crypto loan system, besides Bitcoin. The move will come into effect when the assets start trading publicly under the country’s new crypto regulations.

Initially, the bank will update its existing lending products to meet the new regulatory requirements. Sberbank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov stated that the bank will soon add new cryptocurrencies to the list of assets that can be used as collateral for loans.

As of now, Sberbank allows customers to use only Bitcoin to borrow loans. The bank’s first Bitcoin-backed lending was reported in December 2025, when it provided a loan to Bitcoin mining company Intelion Data. Although the bank did not reveal the exact amount of the loan, the BTC used as collateral was held through its own custody.

The latest development is part of Sberbank’s vision of expanding its crypto loan facilities. Rather than limiting its loan availability to crypto miners, the bank intends to bring them to more businesses. By adding Ethereum and USDT to the system, the bank believes that more companies can use their crypto holdings to access Sberbank’s loan services.

Why could USDT be the tricky part for Sberbank?

It is worth noting that adding Ethereum and USDT to Sberbank’s crypto loan system presents different scenarios. The addition of ETH could be simple, but that of USDT is more complicated. This is mainly because Tether can freeze USDT linked to sanctioned entities. This is concerning for Sberbank as the bank has been under US blocking sanctions since 2022. Thus, the bank is also subject to an EU asset freeze.

In simple terms, the bank may hold USDT as collateral, but the move is risky. The tokens could sometimes become inaccessible if they are frozen by Tether. The Bank of Russia has also raised concerns about the stablecoin. The officials had warned that the issuers could potentially restrict or seize tokens under certain conditions without a court order.

This makes USDT different from BTC and ETH. While Bitcoin and Ethereum are decentralized assets, USDT is controlled by an entity. This makes USDT vulnerable to regulatory moves or sanctions.

How will the new move comply with Russia’s crypto laws?

Interestingly, Sberbank’s announcement comes ahead of Russia’s new crypto regulations, which are expected to take effect on September 1, 2026. The law allows crypto trading through intermediaries. The rules will also apply to foreign stablecoins like USDT. At the same time, crypto payments will remain prohibited.

In line with these rules, Sberbank intends to update its existing crypto-backed loan products. The bank will also ensure that the addition of ETH and USDT complies with the regulations.