VTB, Russia’s second-largest bank, has told clients it plans to let them buy and sell real cryptocurrencies through its brokerage service, with a target rollout in 2026 pending regulator approval. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crash Fails To Shake Ripple CEO — He Still Calls For $180K According to the bank, the move would go beyond the derivative products that most Russian banks have offered so far. It is a clear shift toward opening traditional finance to digital assets, at least for now among wealthy clients. Client Eligibility And Timetable Reports have disclosed that VTB intends to begin with high-net-worth customers only. The bank set thresholds for its initial offering: clients with assets above $1.3 million or annual income over $649,000 would be eligible at first. Andrey Yatskov, who heads VTB’s brokerage arm, said there is “sharp demand” from clients for access to actual crypto, not just paper products tied to token prices. The bank has picked 2026 as the planned start year, but it made that clear the launch depends on regulators signing off. Real Crypto, Not Just Contracts Based on reports, the service would allow ownership of the underlying coins — not merely derivative contracts or token-linked notes. That is a significant distinction in Russia, where until recently banks were limited to offering exposure through derivative instruments. Allowing customers to hold coins directly would require legal and compliance work, from custody arrangements to anti-money-laundering controls. Those steps are on the critical path before any retail expansion can happen. Potential Market Signals VTB has also given investors a sense of how it views crypto as an asset class. The bank recommended a 7% allocation to crypto for some investor profiles, and its internal forecasts have mentioned medium-term Bitcoin price targets in the $200,000–$250,000 range under favorable conditions. If VTB moves forward, it could be the first major Russian bank to operate in this way — a signal that some parts of the financial sector see token ownership as something to be offered through mainstream channels. Related Reading: A New Era Begins: CFTC Approves Spot Bitcoin On Regulated US Markets Regulatory Hurdles And Geopolitics The plan is not risk free. Russian regulation of crypto is still evolving, and any permit to offer direct trading will require approval from the relevant authorities. Sanctions and other geopolitical pressures could alter timelines or force changes to how the service is structured. Compliance teams will need to reconcile domestic rules with international restrictions that affect many big banks operating in or dealing with Russia. For now, the rollout remains conditional. VTB’s timeline, client criteria, and product design all hinge on legal clarifications and regulator consent. Market participants and clients will likely follow announcements from the Bank of Russia and other agencies to judge how soon broader access might come. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

أعلنت VTB، ثاني أكبر بنك في روسيا، عن خطط للسماح للعملاء بشراء وبيع العملات المشفرة الحقيقية من خلال خدمة الوساطة الخاصة بها، مع استهداف إطلاقها في عام 2026، رهناً بموافقة الجهات التنظيمية. تمثل هذه المبادرة تحولاً كبيراً عن المنتجات المشتقة التي قدمتها البنوك الروسية حتى الآن، مما يشير إلى اتجاه نحو دمج التمويل التقليدي مع الأصول الرقمية للعملاء الأثرياء.

VTB, el segundo banco más grande de Rusia, ha anunciado planes para permitir a los clientes comprar y vender criptomonedas reales a través de su servicio de corretaje, con un lanzamiento previsto para 2026, sujeto a la aprobación regulatoria. Esta iniciativa representa un cambio significativo respecto a los productos derivados que las bancos rusos han ofrecido hasta ahora, indicando un movimiento hacia la integración de las finanzas tradicionales con activos digitales para clientes de alto patrimonio.

VTB, la deuxième plus grande banque de Russie, a annoncé son intention de permettre à ses clients d'acheter et de vendre de vraies cryptomonnaies via son service de courtage, avec un déploiement prévu en 2026, sous réserve de l'approbation réglementaire. Cette initiative marque un changement significatif par rapport aux produits dérivés précédemment offerts par les banques russes, indiquant un mouvement vers l'intégration de la finance traditionnelle avec les actifs numériques pour les clients fortunés.

VTB, Russia's second-largest bank, has announced plans to allow clients to buy and sell real cryptocurrencies through its brokerage service, targeting a rollout in 2026, pending regulatory approval. This initiative marks a significant shift from the derivative products previously offered by Russian banks, indicating a move towards integrating traditional finance with digital assets for high-net-worth individuals.

Russia Steps Deeper Into Crypto As State Bank Prepares Direct Trading

Bank of Russia outlined a new framework intended to let retail and qualified investors buy crypto under defined tests and caps by 2027.

أعلن بنك روسيا عن إطار تنظيمي جديد للعملات المشفرة، من المقرر تنفيذه بحلول عام 2026، مما سيسمح للمستثمرين الأفراد والمستثمرين المؤهلين بشراء العملات المشفرة بموجب اختبارات وحدود محددة. تهدف هذه المبادرة إلى تنظيم سوق العملات المشفرة في روسيا وتوفير إرشادات أوضح للمستثمرين.

El Banco de Rusia ha anunciado un nuevo marco regulatorio para las criptomonedas, que se implementará para 2026, permitiendo a los inversores minoristas y calificados comprar criptomonedas bajo pruebas y límites específicos. Esta iniciativa busca formalizar el mercado de criptomonedas en Rusia y proporcionar pautas más claras para los inversores.

La Banque de Russie a annoncé un nouveau cadre réglementaire pour les cryptomonnaies, qui sera mis en œuvre d'ici 2026, permettant aux investisseurs de détail et qualifiés d'acheter des cryptomonnaies sous des tests et des limites spécifiques. Cette initiative vise à formaliser le marché des cryptomonnaies en Russie et à fournir des directives plus claires aux investisseurs.

The Bank of Russia has announced a new regulatory framework for cryptocurrency, set to be implemented by 2026, which will allow both retail and qualified investors to purchase crypto under specific tests and limits. This initiative aims to formalize the crypto market in Russia and provide clearer guidelines for investors.

Russia Steps Deeper Into Crypto As State Bank Prepares Direct Trading

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