T-Bank Bitcoin investment products are now officially live, making the bank the first in Russia to offer crypto-based financial instruments to its clients. The announcement comes just one day after the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) authorized licensed institutions to provide crypto-linked products to qualified investors.
Formerly known as Tinkoff Bank, T-Bank is among Russia’s largest commercial banks. The new crypto product allows users to invest in Bitcoin using rubles — directly from the bank’s app, without opening accounts on crypto exchanges or handling private wallets.
T-Bank Bitcoin Offering Is Legal, Safe, and App-Based
The Bitcoin investment product is issued as a Digital Financial Asset (DFA) through the state-backed tokenization platform Atomize. The bank emphasized that this allows for legal and regulated Bitcoin exposure while ensuring user security and regulatory compliance under Russian law.
“This is a safe and legal way to invest in crypto — directly through your familiar banking interface,” T-Bank stated.
The service is available exclusively to accredited investors — those who meet strict qualification criteria under Russian securities law.
Central Bank Stays Cautious on Direct Crypto Exposure
While the Central Bank now allows crypto-based investment products for institutions, it continues to discourage direct crypto purchases by individual investors. Officials reiterated this point in a recent update on financial stability.
“We do not recommend financial institutions or their clients invest directly in cryptocurrencies,” the CBR noted.
Despite that stance, recent estimates by the Bank of Russia value Russian crypto holdings on centralized exchanges at 827 billion rubles (around $9.2 billion). However, analysts believe the actual figure may be significantly higher due to untracked wallets and off-exchange holdings.
A Shift in Russia’s Crypto Landscape?
The T-Bank Bitcoin investment product marks a turning point in Russia’s official stance on crypto. While full adoption remains limited, regulated crypto-linked products are now entering the mainstream banking sector.
As Russia seeks to modernize its financial system under tight international scrutiny, these hybrid crypto solutions could provide legal alternatives to foreign exchanges — and gradually reshape public and institutional views on digital assets.
