What Is SBP and Why Foreign Companies Are Interested in It
The Faster Payments System (SBP — Sistema Bystrykh Platezhey) is a Russian interbank payment infrastructure launched by the Bank of Russia in 2019. It allows instant transfers by phone number between accounts at different banks, at zero or minimal cost.
For businesses, SBP is particularly valuable because it allows accepting payments from Russian buyers without the Visa/Mastercard network fees that have been unavailable for most operations since 2022. This is why foreign companies selling goods to Russian buyers are actively looking for ways to integrate SBP.
Key Challenges
Can a foreign company connect to SBP directly?
No. SBP is a closed Russian infrastructure. Only banks holding a license from the Central Bank of Russia can participate in the system. A foreign legal entity cannot become a direct SBP participant.
This means a foreign company cannot open an "SBP account" and directly receive transfers from Russian users.
How does the cross-border scenario work then?
Through intermediaries — Russian legal entities or banks acting as agents for the foreign company. Money from the buyer arrives via SBP into the Russian intermediary's account, then gets converted and forwarded to the foreign company. This complicates the arrangement, adds fees, and creates regulatory risks on both sides.
How It Works in Practice
Option 1. Russian subsidiary or sole trader (IP)
A foreign group establishes a Russian legal entity that accepts payments through SBP. Funds are then moved to the foreign company through available cross-border routes (see the article on Russian businesses receiving USD). Legal, but requires maintaining a Russian corporate structure.
Option 2. Agency arrangement
A Russian partner (a sole trader or LLC) accepts SBP payments on behalf of the foreign company under an agency agreement. This is a common model for online sales, but it requires careful legal structuring.
Option 3. Payment aggregator with SBP support
Several Russian aggregators (YuKassa, Robokassa, and others) provide SBP payment acceptance services. Some of them work with foreign companies under agency arrangements.
An important caveat
Any such arrangement must comply with Russian currency legislation, tax requirements in both countries, and AML/KYC obligations. In 2026 this regulatory landscape continues to shift, and compliance risks are real.
FAQ
Can a Russian individual receive SBP payments as an agent for a foreign company?
Technically yes — through a sole trader registration or self-employed status. But this creates tax and currency risks for both the individual and the foreign company. Legal advice is essential before proceeding.
Are there any international SBP integrations?
The Bank of Russia has discussed linking SBP with similar systems in other countries, including Belarus and Kazakhstan, at various points. Progress has been limited. As of 2026, there is no fully operational international SBP integration.
How can a foreign company access the Russian payments market without opening a Russian legal entity?
Practically speaking, it cannot. The Russian payment market is closed to direct participation by non-residents. To operate, you need either a Russian agent or a Russian entity within your corporate group.
Marix helps digital businesses build payment routes between Russia and the international market — taking the current regulatory environment fully into account.