TechFlow, April 25 — According to Bitcoin.com News citing Russian state media Izvestia, the Central Bank of Russia has updated its roadmap for implementing the digital ruble (central bank digital currency, CBDC), planning to officially launch its wholesale payment functionality in 2026. Anna Katamadze, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, stated that citizens will then be able to make payments via digital wallets on the central bank's platform.
Earlier in March this year, Elvira Nabiullina, Governor of the Central Bank of Russia, announced a delay in the rollout of the digital ruble. The digital ruble has currently completed pilot testing, involving 15 banks, 1,700 individuals, and approximately 30 companies. The Russian government plans to use the digital ruble for budget payments and subsidy disbursements to strengthen oversight of fund flows and prevent corruption among government officials.
