Sberbank Launches Bitcoin-Linked Bonds Worth 500 Million Rubles

Russia’s Sberbank has issued over-the-counter bonds valued at 500 million rubles, tied to the price of the leading cryptocurrency. This was announced by the bank’s Deputy Chairman, Anatoly Popov, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to «Lenta.ru».

The product allows investors to allocate funds into an asset whose value is dependent on the price movements of digital gold. This enables them to invest without the need to purchase bitcoin directly or navigate the complexities of crypto infrastructure.

Sberbank assumes responsibility for the legal circulation of these securities within the Russian Federation.

Popov noted that this move effectively equates cryptocurrency with traditional investment instruments such as gold or silver. According to him, it aids in the development of the Russian stock market.

Experimental Legal Regime in Russia

The Russian Ministry of Finance plans to establish the main parameters of an experimental legal regime (ELR) for cryptocurrencies by the end of 2025. This was reported by Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov.

He stated that the ministry is actively discussing the concept with the central bank.

“We have not yet finalized all the parameters of the ELR. We are currently in active discussions with colleagues from the Central Bank. We hope to reach a decision by the end of the year,” said Chebeskov.

He added that the issue is still at the stage of conceptual discussions.

Earlier, on June 4, the Moscow Exchange began trading futures on shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF by BlackRock. By the end of the debut session, the trading volume exceeded 423 million rubles, with the number of transactions approaching 8,600.