Russia’s Sovcombank Becomes First Russian Bank to Publicly Offer Bitcoin-Backed Lending

TLDR: Sovcombank rolled out bitcoin-backed loans for individuals and firms that legally own digital assets in Russia. The launch follows an earlier pilot by state-owned Sberbank with a mining company in December. Russian miners are seeking liquidity solutions that allow them to retain long-term bitcoin exposure. The product aligns with recent regulatory changes legalizing mining and reopening crypto markets. Sovcombank bitcoin-backed loans signal a gradual shift in Russia’s banking approach to digital assets. The lender has launched financing options secured by bitcoin, targeting miners and legal crypto holders seeking liquidity without selling their holdings. Sovcombank expands regulated crypto lending Sovcombank is the first Russian bank to publicly offer bitcoin-backed loans. The product is available to individuals and corporations that legally own digital assets. The bank emphasized that bitcoin serves strictly as collateral. Borrowers can therefore access capital while retaining ownership of their holdings. This approach aligns with growing demand among crypto holders for non-dilutive financing. As a result, banks are reassessing how digital assets fit within lending frameworks. BREAKING: Russia's Sovcombank Launches First Public Bitcoin-Backed Loans → Get Ruble Loans using BTC as Collateral, Without Selling→ 23% Rate, 2x Collateral, up to 2 Years→ Perfect for Miners Needing Liquidity Russia Legalized Mining (Nov '24) & Reopened Crypto Markets… pic.twitter.com/ZYCBMIPhGD — Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) February 6, 2026 In online statements, Sovcombank executives described the product as business-focused. Financing is positioned to support expansion rather than speculative activity. State-owned Sberbank launched a similar offering earlier through a pilot program. That initiative issued a bitcoin-secured loan to mining firm Intelion Data. However, Sberbank’s product remains limited in scope. Sovcombank’s rollout marks a broader public-facing step in crypto-secur...