Sberbank issues Russia's first crypto-backed loan to bitcoin miner Intelion Data

Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Sberbank issues Russia's first crypto-backed loan to bitcoin miner Intelion Data Sberbank used its in-house crypto custody tool to back a loan for mining firm Intelion Data, signaling broader interest in crypto lending. By Olivier Acuna | Edited by Sheldon Reback Dec 29, 2025, 11:51 a.m. Russia's majority state-owned bank, Sberbank, issued the country's first crypto-backed loan. (Perituss/Wikimedia Commons modified by CoinDesk) What to know : Sberbank issued Russia's first bitcoin-backed loan to a major bitcoin miner, marking a pilot transaction with potential for future expansion. The loan utilized Sberbank's crypto custody product, Rutoken, to secure the bitcoin collateral, ensuring asset safety. Sberbank is exploring decentralized finance instruments and supports the gradual legalization of cryptocurrencies in Russia. Sberbank, Russia’s second-largest bank, issued the country's first bitcoin-backed loan to one of its largest bitcoin miners, calling the transaction a pilot and suggesting it was keen to issue more in the future “We believe this product will be relevant not only for cryptocurrency miners, but also for companies that own cryptocurrencies,” the bank said in a statement . It did not disclose the loan amount. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . The bank said it used its own crypto custody product, Rutoken, to hold the bitcoin used as collateral for the crypto loan. “The loan was secured by digital currency mined by [Intelion Data]. This guarantees the assets’ safety during the loan period,” Sberbank said. According to RBC Crypto , IntelionData CEO Timofey Semenov said the loan is an important practical example for the industry and an indicator that the market is reaching a new level, which, if proven effective, could be scaled up and used in the Russian mining industry. Anatoly Popov, Sberbank's deputy chairman, said the bank already offers clients structured bonds and digital financial assets with investments in bitcoin, ether ETH $ 2,961.50 and cryptocurrency baskets, the Russian news outlet added. Popov also said the bank is currently testing decentralized finance (DeFi) instruments and supports the gradual legalization of cryptocurrencies within the Russian legal framework. Sberbank Bitcoin News Bitcoin Mining Crypto Loans More For You State of the Blockchain 2025 By CoinDesk Research Dec 19, 2025 Commissioned by Input Output Group L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below. What to know : 2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns. This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026. View Full Report More For You South Korean financial group Mirae Asset eyes crypto exchange Korbit acquisition: report By Jamie Crawley | Edited by Sheldon Reback 53 minutes ago The financial group is in talks to acquire a 92% stake in Korbit for a as much as 140 billion won ($97 million). What to know : Seoul-based Mirae Asset is considering buying South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Korbit. The financial group is in talks to acquire a 92% stake for as much as 140 billion won ($97 million). The exchange is the fourth-largest in terms of trading volume out of the six incorporated in South Korea. Read full story Latest Crypto News South Korean financial group Mirae Asset eyes crypto exchange Korbit acquisition: report 53 minutes ago Bitcoin reverses early gains, drops below $88,000 as Nasdaq futures wilt 1 hour ago Bitcoin whales have been the main accumulators in the $80,000 range 1 hour ago Tokenized silver volumes explode as metal's price rises to record 3 hours ago Digital yuan holdings to earn interest under China's new framework 4 hours ago XRP and Cardano need to prove they're useful beyond just fans, Mike Novogratz says 4 hours ago Top Stories Bitcoin reverses early gains, drops below $88,000 as Nasdaq futures wilt 1 hour ago Digital yuan holdings to earn interest under China's new framework 4 hours ago South Korean financial group Mirae Asset eyes crypto exchange Korbit acquisition: report 53 minutes ago Tokenized silver volumes explode as metal's price rises to record 3 hours ago Ethereum’s ‘Hegota’ upgrade slated for late 2026 as devs accelerate roadmap 20 hours ago Bitcoin whales have been the main accumulators in the $80,000 range 1 hour ago