The post Sberbank Issues Russia’s 1st Crypto Loan With Bitcoin Miner appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Sberbank has issued Russia’s first loan backed by crypto, extending financing to Intelion Data, one of the country’s largest bitcoin mining companies, in a pilot transaction that signals growing institutional interest in crypto-collateralized lending. The bank, Russia’s largest lender, said the loan was secured using digital assets mined directly by Intelion Data. Sberbank did not disclose the size, duration, or exact type of cryptocurrency used as collateral, describing the transaction as an experimental pilot rather than a full commercial rollout. “We believe this product will be relevant not only for cryptocurrency miners, but also for companies that own cryptocurrencies,” Sberbank said in a statement, adding that it may issue similar loans in the future if the model proves effective. To custody the collateral, the bank used its proprietary digital asset storage solution, Rutoken. Sberbank said the system ensures the safety of the crypto assets throughout the loan period, with the bank holding the collateral until the borrower repays the loan. Intelion Data CEO Timofey Semenov described the deal as a milestone for the Russian mining industry.  Speaking to RBC, Semenov said the loan represents “an important practical example” of how crypto can be integrated into traditional finance and signals that the market is “reaching a new level.” “If proven effective, this type of financing could be scaled up and used more broadly across the Russian mining sector,” he said. Russian’s growing bitcoin mining industry The transaction comes as Russia’s bitcoin mining industry continues to expand, driven by relatively low energy costs and increasing industrial-scale infrastructure.  Intelion Data reported $79 million in revenue in 2024, according to RBC, and said its data centers consumed nearly 300 megawatts of electricity during the year. The company is currently building a large mining facility near the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant in the Tver region…

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Filed under: News - @ December 29, 2025 4:26 pm