PANews reported on December 28th that, according to DL News, Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, has issued the country's first cryptocurrency-backed loan to Bitcoin mining company Intelion Data. The transaction is positioned as a "pilot" program, and the loan size, term, and specific collateral currency have not been disclosed. Sberbank hinted that similar loans may be issued in the future, stating that its self-developed cryptocurrency custody solution, Rutoken, was used in the loan process to ensure asset security during the loan period.