Russia’s central bank officially began the large-scale commercial rollout of the digital ruble, the country’s legal central bank digital currency (CBDC), on September 1, 2026.
Elvira Nabiullina, governor of the Central Bank of Russia, announced that 12 systemically important banks and large retailers with annual revenue exceeding 120 million rubles would be required to connect to the digital ruble system. As a result, major local companies including MTS, Wildberries, and Ozon immediately integrated their payment systems.
With this measure, the digital ruble has begun to be used in everyday transactions and settlements as a “third form of currency payment,” alongside cash and non-cash rubles held in existing bearer deposit accounts.