Catenaa, Thursday, February 06, 2025 – Russia’s digital ruble rollout has reached a new milestone after the government and Central Bank completed a pilot using the central bank digital currency (CBDC) for budgetary payments, officials confirmed last Wednesday, January 29.
The trial, conducted behind closed doors in late 2024, involved the Central Bank, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Finance, according to Russian media. While details of the transactions were not disclosed, the test signals progress toward broader CBDC adoption.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has advocated for the digital ruble’s role in ensuring targeted budget spending.
Officials are also exploring mechanisms such as “color-coding” welfare payments to curb fraud and improve transparency.
The digital ruble is expected to launch for large-scale transactions by July 1, 2025, with all systemically important banks required to support CBDC transactions.
President Vladimir Putin has endorsed its use for federal budget settlements in 2025.
Despite government enthusiasm, public skepticism remains high. Surveys suggest many Russians are hesitant to adopt the CBDC, even as Moscow positions it as a tool to bypass Western financial sanctions and facilitate trade with BRICS nations.
The Chuvash Republic is reportedly being considered as a key testbed for budgetary applications of the digital ruble, with regional officials backing the initiative.
