The largest banks will have to provide their customers with the opportunity to conduct transactions with digital rubles

The payment infrastructure will be opened for the digital ruble. The Bank of Russia has sent proposals to amend the legislation to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. This is stated in the message of the Central Bank.

By July 1, 2025, the largest banks will have to provide their customers with the opportunity to conduct transactions with digital rubles: open and replenish digital ruble accounts, make transfers, and accept digital rubles in their infrastructure. From now on, it is planned to launch the widespread use of the digital national currency. It is important that it is accessible to citizens and businesses and, if desired, they can freely use it on a par with cash and non-cash money.

Other banks with a universal license are given more time to finalize their systems — until July 1, 2026, and other credit institutions — until July 1, 2027.

It is planned to set deadlines for mandatory payment acceptance in digital rubles for trade and service enterprises (TSPS). Companies with annual revenues of more than 30 million rubles will have to do this from July 1, 2025, more than 20 million rubles from July 1, 2026, and all others from July 1, 2027.

After the mass launch of digital rubles, both banks and TSPS will be able to implement their acceptance as soon as their systems are ready, including before the deadlines proposed in the document. Recall that purchases in digital rubles will be paid using a universal QR code based on the NSPK, which will eliminate additional costs for banks and TSPS.

The digital ruble is a digital form of the national currency, which was created to expand the possibilities of payments and transfers. All transactions with digital rubles will be free for citizens. People and businesses will choose for themselves which form of ruble to use.

Operations with digital rubles are currently being piloted. 12 banks are participating in it. Since September 1, 2024, the parameters of the pilot have been expanded, which allows increasing the number of participants to 9 thousand people (previously 600) and up to 1200 TSP (22).