Russia’s Sberbank Given Green Light to Custody Bitcoin.

[aNot!FicaT!on]

One of the most important changes for Bitcoin in Russia is now starting to come true. I just saw this news, the country's largest bank Sberbank has now been approved to provide custody services for Bitcoin and other digital assets. That is, the bank will be able to store and manage transactions of these digital assets on behalf of customers.

The service will be available from their familiar banking platforms such as SberBank Online, SberInvestments and SberBusiness. Bitcoin and Ethereum are coming to the banking apps of about 140 million customers. And the initial state will be Bitcoin BTC, ETH, and the stablecoin USDT.

Russia is gradually starting to give more priority to crypto and is also integrating Bitcoin into the traditional financial system, which is a very good step.

Russia moves bitcoin from a passionate market to mass banking adoption.

"President Putin has appeared to praise Bitcoin in the past, once saying that the leading cryptocurrency can’t be stopped."

As major Russian banks are introducing Bitcoin custody and trading access to their banking platforms, the question is—could such facilities also be introduced in Nigerian banks in the future?

https://www.cointribune.com/en/in-russia-140-million-customers-can-now-access-bitcoin-thanks-to-sberbank-and-vtb/
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/russia-sberbank-can-now-custody-bitcoin

This is a historic decision for the crypto market. By registering Sberbank and VTB on its registers on October 6, 2026, the Central Bank of Russia initiates a giant banking democratization. Bitcoin and Ethereum are about to arrive in the banking apps of nearly 140 million clients. What is behind this schedule and what are the rules?

Bitcoin regulation in Russia reaches a historic milestone. On October 6, 2026, the Bank of Russia officially published its first digital infrastructure registers, marking the direct implementation of the framework law, which came into effect on September 1. At the heart of this decision, two financial giants are preparing access to bitcoin for their users:

Now, no more obstacles on foreign or complex crypto exchange platforms. Access to bitcoin is about to become as simple as a transfer from account to account. Initial announcements and deployment plans prioritize the three market heavyweights: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and the stablecoin Tether (USDT).

140 Million Targeted Clients: a Massive Impact on Global Liquidity
By opening the doors of their mobile apps to all their users, Sberbank and VTB create a direct bridge between the traditional banking system and the crypto universe. By potentially connecting 140 million individual and professional users to secure and familiar interfaces, Russia moves bitcoin from a passionate market to mass banking adoption.

[Joy- maker]

I don't know why you're posting this here, it should be on one of the general boards, either Bitcoin discussion or economics board because it concerns Russia and not Nigeria.  However, it is a good thing and a welcome development for the Russian people as it could make Bitcoin more accessible to millions of people over there and further bridge the gap between traditional banking and cryptocurrency. You can move the thread to one of the boards I suggested, or request that a  mod move it for you, if you don't know how to do it.

[ZeroVinsonN]

I don't know why you're posting this here, it should be on one of the general boards, either Bitcoin discussion or economics board because it concerns Russia and not Nigeria.  However, it is a good thing and a welcome development for the Russian people as it could make Bitcoin more accessible to millions of people over there and further bridge the gap between traditional banking and cryptocurrency. You can move the thread to one of the boards I suggested, or request that a  mod move it for you, if you don't know how to do it.

The information is about Russia but I think what aNot!FicaT!on is trying to do is connect it the Nigeria so in a way it does make the post fit with the Nigerian local board.

As major Russian banks are introducing Bitcoin custody and trading access to their banking platforms, the question is—could such facilities also be introduced in Nigerian banks in the future?

Maybe the access to trading can be done, though it will make the bank become more of an exchange like a bank/exchange and it just doesn't fit into what Nigeria currently is.
The part about holding bitcoin doesn't make sense, I like that there are trying to introduce bitcoin into the regular banking system but in a world where the safest place to keep your bitcoin is in your own personally controlled wallet there is no good enough logic to convince me to start holding in a conventional bank especially with all the crypto related hacks that have happened this year, banks that adopt this might actually lose more clients then gain new ones because I don't want the bank with my money to be attracting attention to potential hackers.