VTB received its own license to issue CFAs: the regulator expands the register of operators
The Central Bank of Russia has officially included VTB Bank (PJSC) in the register of information system operators authorized to issue digital financial assets (DFAs). The decision was made on June 25, 2026, marking another step in the institutionalization of the digital asset market in the country.
According to published data on the regulator's website, the Central Bank not only added VTB to the register but also approved the internal rules for the bank's information system, which will serve as the basis for DFA issuance. This decision is strategic in nature: Russia's second-largest bank after Sberbank gains the ability to use its own technological infrastructure for issuing digital assets, rather than relying on third-party platforms.
From Partnership to Independence
Previously, VTB placed its DFA issues through a subsidiary—the "VTB Capital Trading" platform, which was included in the register of operators back in December 2024. The new license gives the bank direct access to the market, bypassing intermediaries. This not only reduces operational costs but also allows VTB to fully control the process of issuing, storing, and circulating digital assets within its own system.
The Register Grows: 24th Participant
As of the regulator's latest data upload (June 24), the register listed 23 operators, including "VTB Capital Trading." With the inclusion of VTB itself, the number of participants will reach 24. This indicates a gradual but steady expansion of the DFA market in Russia, where more and more major financial institutions are seeking to obtain their own licenses.
My analysis shows that this move by VTB is not just a formality but a signal to the market. The largest banks are beginning to view DFAs not as an experimental tool, but as a full-fledged element of their business model. In an environment where traditional capital markets are under pressure, digital assets are becoming an alternative channel for attracting liquidity and structuring financial products. With its significant client base and resources, VTB could become one of the key drivers of this segment. Attention should be paid to how quickly the bank will launch actual issues and what instruments it will offer to the market.