Putin orders acceleration of digital ruble rollout preparations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Bank of Russia and the government to expedite preparations for the nationwide rollout of the digital ruble and to finalize a clear timeline for its implementation, Report informs via Interfax.

"In Russia, the pilot project for the digital ruble has been underway for nearly two years. All core operations have been tested, including account openings and closures, transfers between individuals and businesses, and payments for goods and services," Putin said during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025.

He emphasized that the next task is to ensure widespread adoption of the digital ruble among citizens, enterprises, and banks.

The digital ruble is Russia's third form of national currency, intended to complement existing cash and non-cash formats. The Bank of Russia launched a pilot program using real digital rubles on August 15, 2023.

A nationwide rollout was initially scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025. However, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina announced in late February that full-scale implementation would be delayed, with specific dates expected to be announced by the end of this year.