Group 1 - Sberbank, Russia's second-largest bank, has issued the country's first bitcoin-backed loan to a major bitcoin miner, indicating a pilot transaction with plans for future loans [1] - The loan was secured using Sberbank's crypto custody product, Rutoken, which holds the bitcoin collateral, ensuring asset safety during the loan period [2] - Intelion Data's CEO highlighted the loan as a significant practical example for the industry, suggesting it could lead to scalable applications in the Russian mining sector [3] Group 2 - Sberbank offers structured bonds and digital financial assets that include investments in bitcoin, ether (ETH), and cryptocurrency baskets, indicating a diverse product offering [4] - The bank is testing decentralized finance (DeFi) instruments and supports the gradual legalization of cryptocurrencies within the Russian legal framework, reflecting a proactive approach to evolving market conditions [4]

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has issued the country’s first-ever crypto-backed loan. The bank says it issued the loan to Intelion Data, one of Russia’s biggest Bitcoin miners. It did not disclose the size of the loan, nor the amount of crypto used to secure it. “The loan was secured by digital currency mined by [Intelion Data],” Sberbank wrote in an official release. “We believe this product will be relevant not only for cryptocurrency miners, but also for companies that own cryptocurrencies.” As B ...