TL;DR
- Russia approves using the digital ruble (CBDC) for government payments like pensions and salaries from late 2025.
- Use is optional, requiring recipient consent, and only citizens can open accounts.
- The Federal Treasury will start collecting state revenues in the digital ruble from January 1, 2026.
Russia’s executive branch approved the use of the digital ruble for selected budget payments, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance. The ministry said government agencies can start making budget transfers in the Bank of Russia central bank digital currency as early as late 2025, ahead of a broader rollout planned for 2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers in Moscow adopted a list of expenditures eligible for payment in the digital ruble. The list includes social security transfers, pensions, public-sector salaries, and other state payments. The list also covers funding for capital construction, repair, and maintenance of state-owned facilities.
A notice published by the Ministry of Finance said the government approved a list of budget expenditures for which the digital ruble may be used as early as 2025. The ministry added a condition: payments occur only upon request from recipients. The ministry also stated that only the citizen can open a digital ruble account.
Federal Treasury steps up CBDC intake as the timeline moves forward
Amendments to Russia’s Budget Code, which entered into force earlier in 2025, provide the legal basis for executing the federal budget using a digital ruble account held by the Federal Treasury, the ministry explained. The Treasury oversees the spending of state funds across administrators and recipients.
At the end of November, the Treasury said it will start accepting revenues in the CBDC from January 1. Roman Artyukhin, head of the Treasury, also said Russia already made first payments in the digital ruble during 2025, in remarks delivered at a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The Ministry of Finance said it works closely with the Central Bank of Russia on integrating the digital ruble into budget processes. The ministry also confirmed that institutions and other organizations can use the CBDC to transfer funds to and from budgets starting in early 2026.
The digital ruble stands as a third form of national currency alongside cash and bank money. A pilot launched in 2023 and continues to expand. The central bank scheduled a staged public introduction beginning on September 1, 2026.
In late November, the regulator said person-to-person wallet transfers carry zero fees, while business payments carry fees of 0.3%, and housing and utility payments carry fees of 0.2%. In December, the regulator said banks will integrate the digital ruble into existing banking apps to keep costs low.
