Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, plans to launch cryptocurrency trading, custody and a digital depository by December 1, 2026. The company said it will complete the required systems before that date. The new regulatory framework, effective September 1, 2026, requires licensing by July 1, 2027 for banks, exchanges, brokers and digital repositories. Non‑qualified investors may purchase up to 300,000 rubles of crypto per year after passing a mandatory knowledge test, while qualified investors face no annual cap. Sberbank has not disclosed which cryptocurrencies will be supported, the fees, eligibility criteria or withdrawal limits. Alexander Vedyakhin, Sberbank's first deputy chairman, said the bank intends to finish the infrastructure and launch the digital depository by the deadline. The depository will record customer ownership and handle off‑chain transactions using controlled wallets for deposits, withdrawals and transfers. The bank also conducted a crypto‑backed lending pilot with Intelion Data in December 2025 and previously submitted proposals to the central bank on storing Russian customers' crypto assets. Other Russian financial institutions, including VTB, T‑Bank, Moscow Exchange and Alfa‑Bank, are developing or testing crypto services in preparation for the licensing deadline. The Bank of Russia will supervise the market, set custody and customer‑protection standards, and prohibits crypto payments for domestic goods and services, though cross‑border settlements remain allowed. Residents must report certain foreign crypto holdings for tax purposes. The December 1 target places Sberbank's rollout within the regulatory transition period, and the bank must publish supported assets, fee structures and access rules before launch.