Central Bank of Russia Announces Mass Rollout of Digital Ruble

Central Bank of Russia Announces Mass Rollout of Digital Ruble

Karen Faulkner

The Bank of Russia has confirmed its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, is set for a mass rollout in the second half of 2025, Ledgerinsights reported on Wednesday, October 2.

The largest banks will be required to support the digital ruble by July 2025, Ledgerinsights reports. These banks will have to offer digital ruble accounts, and accept digital rubles. Smaller banks will have until July 2026 to comply and nonbank credit institutions have until July 2027,” Ledgerinsights said.

Moreover, businesses will also have to accept the digital ruble, Ledgerinsights said. Businesses with a turnover of 30 million rubles ($320,000) or more must comply upon opening. Those with over 20 million rubles in revenues have an extra year, and those with less than that have two years.

“The [Russian] central bank doesn’t believe it will be too challenging for merchants to adopt the CBDC, as it plans to mandate a universal QR code with a draft law in preparation, Ledgerinsights explained in its report. 

“This will be based on the QR codes currently used by SBP, Russia’s faster payment system. The universal QR code has already been piloted by 22 banks.”

In a statement about the rollout, Russia’s central bank noted: “The digital ruble will not have a significant impact on the monetary policy transmission mechanism (MPTM). At the same time, the Bank of Russia has all the tools to compensate for the secondary effects of the introduction of the digital ruble on the MPTM, if they arise.”