According to ChainCatcher, Herman Gref, CEO of Sberbank, said that the current law prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies as a payment method in Russia and is unlikely to be allowed in the near future.

Gref clarified at a conference in Moscow that while Russia's new legislation allows the use of digital currencies and cryptocurrencies for international payments, their use in the country is still restricted. He also pointed out that if other countries are willing to accept it, the Russian central bank digital currency (CBDC) - the digital ruble can be used for global transactions.

As Russia's largest bank and state-owned financial institution, Sberbank is closely following these developments, although Gref expressed uncertainty about the adoption of the digital ruble abroad.