A major Russian bank has officially launched a cryptocurrency international settlement service for legal entities and resident individual entrepreneurs of the Russian Federation. This is a significant step in integrating digital assets into the country's traditional financial infrastructure.
The new product is positioned as a tool for settlements under foreign trade contracts. The bank emphasizes full transaction support in accordance with currency control legislation, including the norms of Federal Law No. 173-FZ and Instruction No. 181-I. This is critically important for businesses working with international partners.
Key Terms and Tariffs
According to published information, the commission for a payment starts from 0.16%. This reduced rate is valid until August 31, 2026, after which it will increase to 0.3% per transfer. The minimum and maximum transfer amounts are not limited, opening up broad opportunities for corporate clients.
Special emphasis is placed on speed: payment delivery takes about two minutes. The transfer route is stated as "transparent with a guarantee." For detailed terms, the bank recommends contacting the organization directly, indicating an individual approach to each client.
Background and Context
Earlier, media reports suggested that some clients of Alfa-Investments allegedly gained access to cryptocurrency operations. Users were reportedly able to top up their accounts from a ruble account and execute trades in the broker's interface. However, bank representatives did not confirm this information, stating that such functionality was not available at the time of the conversation, although "such an option may appear in the future."
It is worth recalling that the bank has been working with digital assets since 2025. It became one of the first to launch digital financial assets (DFAs) pegged to the exchange rate of Bitcoin and Ethereum on its own A-Token platform.
My analysis: The launch of this service is not just an expansion of the product line, but a strategic move. Amid restrictions on traditional international transfers, cryptocurrency is becoming a real alternative for Russian businesses. The speed of 2 minutes and the transparency of the route indicate that the bank is betting on blockchain technology to bypass classic banking delays. This could become a powerful catalyst for the legalization of crypto settlements in the corporate sector.