Russia’s Sber launches Bitcoin-linked bonds
Russia’s largest lender, Sber (formerly Sberbank), has introduced structured bonds tied to Bitcoin, according to an announcement on the bank’s website. The new financial product tracks both the price of the top cryptocurrency and the dollar-to-ruble exchange rate.
Sber says the bond is currently available to a limited pool of qualified investors on the over-the-counter market. The bank noted that the new bond offers potential returns from Bitcoin’s price movement in dollars and from the dollar’s appreciation against the ruble.
According to the bank, investors will not need to open cryptocurrency wallets or use unregulated foreign platforms to buy the new bond, as all transactions will be conducted in rubles “within Russia’s legal and infrastructure systems.” The bank added that it plans to expand its offerings, with full listings on the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) expected soon.
“[This] will ensure transparency, liquidity and convenience for a wide range of qualified investors,” the bank said. It announced that a Bitcoin futures product will launch in the lender’s SberInvestments app on June 4, following its listing on MOEX.
The move follows guidance from the Bank of Russia, which on May 28 authorized financial institutions to offer crypto-linked derivatives, securities, and digital assets to qualified investors. The central bank specified, however, that these instruments must not involve the actual delivery of crypto tokens, and proposed a pilot program limiting direct crypto transactions to specific investor categories.
Both MOEX and the St. Petersburg Exchange later said they plan to introduce futures products linked to cryptocurrency prices. Several financial organizations, including T-Bank and Alfa Bank, also started offering products tied to digital assets shortly after the regulator’s announcement.
Russia has taken a cautious but gradually evolving approach to cryptocurrencies. While digital assets are not recognized as legal tender in the country, the government has moved to regulate their use. A law passed last year banned advertising cryptocurrencies to the general public and limited services facilitating crypto transactions. Another measure classified digital currencies as property, making them subject to income tax. At the same time, the country legalized crypto mining, though it remains restricted in energy-deficient regions until 2031.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called crypto regulation a “promising area,” urging the creation of legal and technological infrastructure for its domestic and cross-border use. However, the central bank has remained skeptical. In March, the head of the regulator, Elvira Nabiullina, called cryptocurrencies “very volatile” and urged for their use as a payment method to be banned. She noted, however, that she supports the limited use of cryptocurrencies as an investment tool.
