Digital Financial Assets Go Mainstream in Banking Apps
Digital financial assets are now available to buy directly through the Sberbank Online app, marking a shift from niche fintech instruments to everyday banking products.
Sber has opened access to digital financial assets, or DFA, to retail investors without requiring a brokerage account or qualification testing. That move effectively pulls the instrument out of a narrow fintech niche and into the category of mass-market banking products.
The first offering available to users is a DFA issued by Sinara – Transport Machines holding, with a 17% annual yield, a nominal value of 1,000 rubles and monthly coupon payments. The asset has a one-year maturity, making it a short-term investment option.
A Fast-Growing Market
Russia’s market for digital financial assets is expanding rapidly. In 2025, according to ACRA, the number of registered users on specialized information system platforms rose from 279,000 to 757,000. More than 1,600 DFA issuances were placed, with a total volume of around 1.1 trillion rubles.
Lowering the barrier to a relatively new investment tool will do more than increase participation. It opens a new savings diversification channel for individuals. At the same time, Sber’s move is likely to intensify competition among banks, driving demand for full-stack IT solutions to support this financial infrastructure. In practice, that includes super apps – ecosystem-style platforms that bundle services such as smart contract execution, interaction between issuance platforms and digital wallets and KYC/AML modules.
Corporate Push Meets State Strategy
Sber is packaging a technically complex asset into a familiar banking interface. That makes adoption easier and sets the stage for further market expansion. More issuers are likely to enter, secondary trading may deepen and integration with other digital tools, including the digital ruble, is expected to follow.
This trajectory also aligns with the state agenda. The Bank of Russia has outlined key priorities for 2026 – 2027, including financial market digitization, a stronger role in economic transformation and broader access to financial instruments for citizens and businesses. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has legalized the use of DFA in cross-border settlements.
From Early Issuance to Mass Trading
Russia’s law on digital financial assets came into force in January 2021. In 2022, the first operators of information systems, Atomayz, Sberbank and Lighthouse, received licenses and began issuing DFA.
In 2023 – 2024, both the number of operators and issuances grew, along with platform user bases. By 2025, market leaders began using mobile banking and investment apps to expand their investor base, especially among retail users. Identification takes just minutes, and transactions are paid via bank card, making the process fast and transparent.
Last year, secondary trading became available on the T-Technologies DFA platform, and in September, users of the T-Bank app gained access to this feature. Now Sber’s app also allows users to buy digital assets.
Linking Fintech to the Real Economy
In 2026, market growth is expected to continue, driven largely by standard debt-based DFA issued by major corporate players. The expansion of secondary markets will improve liquidity, while ecosystem-based banking apps will attract new investors. That, in turn, will drive demand for end-to-end platform solutions, from issuance and accounting to analytics and cybersecurity, benefiting the broader IT sector.
Applying these technologies to finance industrial assets will further connect fintech with the real economy, supporting the continued evolution of the digital economy. If current trends hold, Russia is likely to build one of the most mature digital financial asset markets in the EAEU, backed by domestic infrastructure.
