Russia’s Sberbank expects crypto trading to reach about 4 trillion rubles, or roughly $46 billion, during its first year, according to Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov. Speaking to state media, Popov said the bank is preparing to expand its crypto-backed lending offerings. The planned products would use Ethereum and Tether’s USDT as backing, but require regulatory approval before they can be introduced. The comments point to a broader role for digital assets within Sberbank’s planned services, while the timing and final structure of the lending products remain subject to regulators’ decisions. The projected trading figure and lending plans relate directly to Ethereum (ETH) and USDT, the crypto assets identified by the bank for the proposed collateral arrangements.
