Gazprom Unveils $23.5M in Blockchain-Based DFAs for Retail and Institutional Investors
Gazprom, Russia’s state-backed oil and gas powerhouse, has officially entered the digital financial assets (DFA) sector by launching blockchain-powered, tradable tokens via its banking arm, Gazprombank, on the Moscow Exchange. According to RBC, the issuance is valued at 2 billion rubles (approx. $23.5 million) and will go live on March 31, 2025. The firm will issue 2 million tokens, each worth 1,000 rubles (around $11.77), with an annual yield of 21%.
Tradable Tokens with Retail Access
Gazprom’s DFAs are described as “tokenized monetary claims on the issuer,” and the tokens will mature on May 13, 2025, at which point holders will receive 1,024.74 rubles ($12.06) per token in fiat. In a rare move for Russian DFAs, the tokens are available to non-qualified investors, meaning retail buyers can participate, not just professional investors or corporations — a signal of growing accessibility in the space.
DFA Adoption Spreads Across Russia’s State Giants
Gazprom’s DFA debut follows a similar issuance by Rostelecom, Russia’s largest telecom provider, which launched its own DFAs earlier in March via the Moscow Exchange. These moves underscore a trend: major state-owned enterprises are embracing tokenized finance, following in the footsteps of banks and metals producers. DFA platforms in Russia are regulated by the Central Bank, which issues licenses to “information system operators” (ISOs). One of the early pioneers in this space is Atomyze, built on Hyperledger Fabric, and linked to Norilsk Nickel.
Russia’s DFA Market Nears $8 Billion
Sberbank, another state-owned giant, estimates that cumulative DFA trading volume has reached 684 billion rubles (~$8 billion) as of early 2024. The bank itself recently issued a DFA tracking global cocoa prices, showing the growing diversity of tokenized offerings. Meanwhile, Gazprom is also making moves in crypto. In 2023, it launched a crypto mining subsidiary, which is currently building a 5,000-rig mining facility in Veliky Novgorod. The company is reportedly investing up to $500 million into the project, expected to reach full capacity by 2028.
