Sberbank, Russia’s biggest bank, is diving deeper into the world of digital finance. The bank is now testing decentralized finance (DeFi) tools and launching investment products that are connected to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

At a recent event in Moscow focused on AI and blockchain, Sberbank’s top executives revealed their plans to grow in the crypto space. The bank is focusing on three main areas: blockchain infrastructure, digital financial assets, and safe, regulated ways for investors to get into crypto markets.

Sberbank is also working closely with Russian regulators—including the Bank of Russia and Rosfinmonitoring—to figure out how to offer crypto-related services in a way that’s legal and secure. Their goal is to let qualified investors buy into digital assets using normal banking systems, while still protecting customers and keeping the financial system stable.

Right now, Sberbank already offers investment products like structured bonds and digital financial assets (DFAs) that are tied to cryptocurrencies. These products let people benefit from the ups and downs of crypto prices without having to actually own the coins. They offer exposure to major digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tron, Avalanche, and BNB.

They’ve also launched digital asset funds that track crypto indexes and created structured bonds—some available on exchanges and others traded over-the-counter—that are linked to crypto performance. So far, they’ve sold about 1.5 billion rubles worth of these crypto-linked products. That’s a solid start for a new market.

Although Sberbank isn’t buying cryptocurrencies for its own balance sheet just yet, it is open to becoming a liquidity provider and market maker on regulated crypto platforms in the future. The bank believes that interest in crypto among Russians remains strong, and estimates suggest that digital asset holdings in Russia could reach hundreds of billions of rubles by 2025.

In addition to offering crypto-related products, Sberbank is also building its own blockchain platform. This platform supports smart contracts and helps businesses issue their own tokenized assets. It has already been used for digital assets linked to commodities like cocoa and cryptocurrency indexes.

Looking forward, Sberbank sees big opportunities in stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets, and better connections between private and public blockchains. The bank is especially interested in public networks like Ethereum, which have advanced smart contract features. However, deeper integration will depend on how regulations evolve.