Key facts
- Alfa-Bank is testing crypto trading for qualified investors.
- The bank plans to offer custody and digital depository services.
- These services will be launched after a regulatory framework is adopted.
- The expansion is part of a broader trend among Russian banks entering the crypto market.
- Services are anticipated by late 2026 or 2027.
Russia's largest private lender, Alfa-Bank, is preparing to launch Bitcoin and cryptocurrency trading services for qualified investors. The bank intends to offer custody and a digital depository once new regulations take effect. This move aligns with a broader trend of major Russian banks seeking to enter the country's developing digital asset market, with services anticipated by late 2026 or 2027.