Russian Lower House Approves Digital Ruble Ahead of 2026 Rollout

Russia's State Duma has passed legislation mandating the phased introduction of a central bank digital currency, with full implementation targeted for September 2026. The bill requires major financial institutions to adopt CBDC infrastructure by next year, while granting exemptions to smaller enterprises.

Anatoly Aksakov, architect of Russia's crypto policy framework, spearheaded the legislative effort. The proposal now moves to the Federation Council for ratification before reaching President Putin's desk—a procedural formality given the Central Bank's established timeline.

The digital ruble initiative represents Moscow's latest MOVE in the global CBDC race, positioning Russia among nations developing sovereign digital currencies. Unlike private cryptocurrencies, the state-backed digital ruble will operate as legal tender with mandatory acceptance by domestic banks.