Russia’s central bank-issued digital ruble has been proposed for salary payments, but state officials insist incomes in the new digital currency are not deemed mandatory. According to the country’s Ministry of Finance, Russia’s CBDC program began in 2021 and was formalized through a legislative change two years later.
Speaking to reporters in a press briefing, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy and Communications Anton Tkachev said workers and employers still have the right to choose between cash and crypto payments.
“Receiving salaries in digital rubles is an additional opportunity for people. They can decide for themselves how to receive their wages,” Tkachev told several local news publications.
He explained that introducing the state-backed digital currency gradually could create a “digital divide” among citizens with different levels of proficiency in digital instruments. Tkachev suggested implementing programs to improve digital literacy, creating competence centers, and developing educational initiatives.
“Constant and comprehensive outreach work will help us teach how to use the digital ruble and make digital currency education a priority in the eyes of citizens,” he surmised.
Digital ruble pilot payments had been issued in September
The Russian Ministry of Finance reported in mid-September that the Russian Treasury had made the first wage payment in digital rubles to the chairman of the State Duma Finance Committee, Anatoly Aksakov. Aksakov spent the funds on restaurant bills and charitable donations to test the currency’s real-world functionality.
Russia’s central bank officials will allow transactions between digital ruble accounts starting January 2026, although recipients can choose whether or not to accept payments in the digital currency.
The full public launch is scheduled for September 1, 2026, after phased trials on government transfers, commercial transactions, and payments in transport and real estate.
Still, the digital ruble’s reach will not extend to pensioners, after authorities have confirmed payments to retirees will not be converted into the CBDC. Yaroslav Nilov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor and Social Policy, said Russian pensioners will continue to receive funds via cash or bank cards.
Central Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina supported Nilov’s sentiments, adding that the digital ruble is voluntary for state employees.
“The Bank of Russia is not yet a participant in this pilot, but it will become one in the near future, and our employees will be able to voluntarily join this pilot. When the digital ruble becomes available to everyone, citizens can make that decision.”
Smart contracts and regional testing programs
The digital ruble has also been tested in regional projects by Ak Bars Bank, in partnership with the Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance of Tatarstan. The bank’s pilot program transferred subsidies from the republican budget using digital rubles. Tagir Karimov, first deputy chairman of Ak Bars Bank, presented the project at the Finopolis forum earlier this year.
The pilot focused on a subsidy program supporting expenses for publishing the laws of the Republic of Tatarstan, under conditions defined by a smart contract. Karimov confirmed that all technical steps in the roadmap had been completed, and the smart contract functionality on the digital ruble platform had been implemented.
“All work according to the roadmap has been completed. Ak Bars Bank is ready to use the digital ruble in the budget process,” Karimov reported to Nabiullina.
But according to strategy director at Finam Investment Company and lecturer at the Higher School of Economics Yaroslav Kabakov, it’ll be years before the digital ruble becomes palatable for the public.
“It is unlikely that the digital ruble will immediately become widespread, especially if participation remains voluntary, since many are used to cash or bank cards and will not want to move to some ‘new account’ and application,” Kabakov reckoned.
Cryptopolitan had covered a recent survey by the online financial comparison service “Выберу.ру” (vbr.ru) and the Russian branch of IT Smart Finance, which found that about 10% of Russians are prepared to invest in crypto assets.
Digital currency awareness among those surveyed was around 80%, but only a mere 3% to 5% of individuals aged 25 to 50 currently have crypto holdings on record.
