Digital ruble: start of pilot testing

‘The start of pilot testing of the digital ruble on real transactions is a critical stage of this project. We will be able to test how the digital ruble platform operates in real-life conditions, check all necessary procedures with the participation of clients, adjust the processes where needed, and make sure that the customer journey is convenient and easy-to-understand for users. Based on the results of the stage-by-stage testing and provided that the pilot testing of all the scenarios of digital ruble transactions is completed successfully, we will start issuing the digital ruble for broad use. We assume that, beginning from 2025, both individuals and businesses will be able to actively use the national digital currency, of course if they wish to,’ said Olga Skorobogatova, First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia.

The first stage of the pilot testing is intended to check all basic transactions, including opening of digital ruble accounts (digital wallets) and money transfers to them, person-to-person digital ruble transfers, simple automatic bill payments, and QR code-based payments for goods and services. The participants in the pilot testing will be able to make payments in digital rubles at 30 points of sale located in 11 Russian cities.

The list of the participants is planned to be expanded until the end of the year by engaging both individuals and companies.

Next year, the number of digital ruble transactions will increase to include dynamic QR code-based payments and business-to-business digital ruble transfers. The list of templates for simple automatic bill payments will be expanded as well.