Russia's largest commercial bank Sberbank has taken action — they have just extended a special loan to major Bitcoin miner Intelion Data. The unique aspect of this financing is that the collateral is not traditional real estate, stocks, or cash, but crypto assets.

According to official statements, this is the country's first bank loan backed by digital currency, currently classified as a "pilot project." The specific loan amount, term, and the type of cryptocurrency used as collateral have not been disclosed yet. However, it is noteworthy that these crypto assets are managed throughout by Sberbank's proprietary custody platform Rutoken until the loan is fully repaid.

This case is quite interesting — such cooperation between traditional financial giants and Bitcoin miners reflects the increasing recognition of crypto assets as a tangible asset class by institutional participants. This move in the Russian financial system also hints that the status of digital assets within mainstream finance is quietly changing.