Belarus Aims to Launch Digital Ruble by Second Half of 2026

The National Bank of Belarus has announced plans to introduce its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, with a targeted rollout in the latter half of 2026. This move aligns with the growing global trend of digitizing national currencies to enhance payment efficiency and financial inclusion. Belarus joins several other nations actively developing CBDCs, as the technology continues to gain traction among central banks worldwide.

CBDC initiative establishes independent financial channels

Belarus’s push toward a digital ruble is partly driven by the need to adapt to the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies and the impact of international sanctions. Introducing a CBDC allows countries like Belarus and Russia to establish independent financial channels and reduce their exposure to external economic pressures.

The digital ruble is intended to complement existing cash and electronic forms of the Belarusian ruble, providing an additional layer of state-issued digital currency.

In parallel, Russia has faced delays in its own digital ruble rollout. CryptoSlate recently reported that Russia’s central bank postponed the full-scale launch of its CBDC, extending the pilot phase indefinitely due to technical and operational challenges.

The Russian pilot, which began in August 2023 with 12 participating banks, focused on wallet creation, transfers, and automated payments but encountered hurdles that prompted the central bank to prioritize further refinement before mass adoption.

Belarus’s commitment to digital innovation is not new. The country adopted a comprehensive legal framework for cryptocurrencies in 2018, introducing streamlined accounting standards and facilitating crypto transactions for businesses. This regulatory groundwork has positioned Belarus as one of the more progressive nations in the region regarding digital assets.