Russia Begins Paying State Salaries in Digital Ruble Amid National Rollout Plans
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russia has commenced state salary payments in its digital ruble, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), as Moscow prepares for a full-scale rollout in the coming months. The Russian Finance Ministry confirmed the move, stating that government employees can now receive salaries in the digital currency, which will also be used for property maintenance, social security payments, and other government expenses. Participation remains optional at this stage, with traditional payment methods still available.
Russia’s national digital ruble implementation, originally scheduled for July 2025, has been extended to September 2026 following opposition from business and industrial groups concerned about high training and infrastructure costs. Despite these challenges, Russian officials remain optimistic about the digital currency’s potential. Alla Bakina, head of the Bank of Russia’s National Payment System Department, projects the digital ruble could account for 7% of the country’s cashless payments within years of its launch.
Experts note that integrating the digital ruble into government payments provides a controlled testing environment for the new financial instrument. With a 2024 federal budget of $409 billion and over $100 billion in oil and gas revenues, Russia can evaluate the currency’s performance at scale before broader public adoption. Legislative amendments enabling government use of the digital ruble took effect January 1.
Russia’s CBDC development contrasts with other major economies like the U.S., UK, and Canada focusing on stablecoins, while China promotes its e-CNY through interest payments to holders.
