Russia’s Digital Ruble Gets Green Light – Central Bank Crypto Launch Set for September 2025

Russia's lower house just rubber-stamped the digital ruble, clearing the runway for a September 2025 rollout. The Kremlin's crypto play arrives right on schedule—because when has a government blockchain project ever been delayed?

From Duma to Digital: The legislation sailed through with all the efficiency of a pre-approved Politburo vote. Now the Central Bank of Russia gets to play monetary mad scientist with a full-fledged CBDC.

Sanctions? What Sanctions?: This move reeks of dollar-dodging desperation—but hey, at least they're not trying to back it with frozen gold reserves this time. The digital ruble's real test begins when babushkas start using it to buy potatoes.

Digital Ruble QR Codes Mandated for Payments

The bill has mandated the use of digital Ruble QR codes for the payment of goods and services. Individuals will have the ability to pay CBDC tokens, i.e. units of digital Ruble, to companies or individual traders by scanning app-based QR codes

Additionally, vendors must also allow customers to pay in digital Rubles if requested.

Furthermore, the bill also addresses concerns about launching the CBDC in regions within Russia with limited internet or mobile coverage. With many rural areas in Russia still facing connectivity issues, the legislation has given vendors without proper access to the internet or mobile networks an option to opt out from accepting digital Ruble payments.

Additionally, businesses that earn less than 5 million Rubles ($63,900 approx.) annually will have the option to not support digital Ruble transactions.

With the implementation of a universal QR code payment system, the digital Ruble aims to offer a safer and more user-friendly means to make payments to simplify transactions nationwide.

The CBDC rollout within Russia reflects a broader push to move away from cash-based transactions and to expand financial inclusivity.

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Sberbank Questions Need for CBDCs

While state authorities have been pushing for a digital Ruble, commercial banks have questioned the need for a Russian CBDC. Sberbank head German Graf expressed his uncertainty regarding the digital Ruble’s potential to drive major economic transformation in the country.

Graf commented on this matter to a local publication, stating, “I don’t understand why an individual needs the option to use a CBDC. And neither do banks. And businesses, too. I still don’t really understand why this is necessary.”

He did, however, mention that CBDCs could play a role in cross-border settlements in case overseas partners wanted to use the CBDC as well.

Nonetheless, the pilot phase, introduced in 2023, is still ongoing, with the Russian Central Bank claiming that the adoption of the digital Ruble will allow for faster, transparent, and secure transactions.

Additionally, the Ministry of Finance has advocated using the digital Ruble for government contracts and issuing benefits, claiming that it will help eliminate fraud and corruption.

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Key Takeaways

• The Russian State Duma has passed legislation mandating a phased rollout of the digital Ruble starting September next year
• Large enterprises will accept the CBDC at the outset, while medium and smaller enterprises will begin in September 2027 and 2028, respectively
• The bill mandates scanable QR codes as a standard for making payments