Sber Plans To Accept USDT and ETH as Crypto Loan Collateral

Crypto Regulation & Banking News

Russia’s regulated crypto market officially opens on Sept. 1, 2026, and Sber is already reshaping its product lineup accordingly.

The country’s largest bank by assets plans to add Tether (USDT) and Ethereum (ETH) to its list of acceptedcrypto loan collateral, joining Bitcoin (BTC), which the bank already accepts. Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov confirmed the plan in comments reportedby TASS on Aug. 29, saying the additions will follow the Bank of Russia’s formal approval of each asset for domestic regulated trading.

The legal foundation for this is a crypto law signed by President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 4, which gives the Bank of Russia sole authority to determine which digital assets qualify for listing on regulated exchanges. On Aug. 11, the central bank put forward BTC, ETH, and USDT as its first candidates, citing their market caps, trading volumes, and verifiable price histories spanning at least five years on international markets.

Sber Takes a Gradual Approach to New Collateral

Collateralization in crypto lending works by having borrowers deposit one asset to secure a loan denominated in another. Sber has not set a fixed timeline for adding ETH and USDT to that framework, tying the rollout directly to the pace of central bank approvals. Popov described the expansion as incremental, with existing products adapted in steps. The bank has not disclosed what loan-to-value ratios or liquidation thresholds it will apply to the new collateral assets.
While Sber prepares to deepen its exposure to crypto markets, it has taken a noticeably cooler stance toward Russia’scentral bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, also set to expand its rollout on Sept. 1. CFO Taras Skvortsov said publicly that he sees no clear market demand for it from the private sector. “I don’t see any clear interest in this instrument, apart from the central bank’s,” Skvortsov said. He specified that retail clients, corporate customers, and financial institutions have all shown limited appetite for the instrument.

Digital Ruble Launches Into a Skeptical Market

The contrast is notable. Sber is preparing to lend against internationally traded, market-pricedstablecoins and crypto assets, while distancing itself from a state-issued digital currency backed by the same central bank driving the new regulatory framework. The Bank of Russia is advancing both the regulated crypto market and the digital ruble simultaneously. Sber’s public position suggests the private sector views the two projects very differently.

Related Article:Tokenized Pokemon Cards Beat Bitcoin in 2026 — Here’s Why

BTC was trading at $78,148 and ETH at $2,455 at the time of publication, per CoinMarketCap data. Both are among the three assets the Bank of Russia has proposed for regulated exchange listing. Sber said it will continue adapting its product lineup as those approvals move forward, without committing to a specific launch date for either addition.

This article contains links to third-party websites or other content for information purposes only (“Third-Party Sites”). The Third-Party Sites are not under the control of CoinMarketCap, and CoinMarketCap is not responsible for the content of any Third-Party Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Third-Party Site, or any changes or updates to a Third-Party Site. CoinMarketCap is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by CoinMarketCap of the site or any association with its operators. This article is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. It is important to do your own research and analysis before making any material decisions related to any of the products or services described. This article is not intended as, and shall not be construed as, financial advice. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s [company’s] own and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinMarketCap.

Source: coinmarketcap.com