Russia Pioneers Digital Ruble Salary Payments

The Russian Ministry of Finance has made history by paying some of its employees in digital rubles. This milestone comes just one month after the large-scale launch of the digital ruble on September 1. The payment system remains voluntary, and Moscow has not disclosed the number of participants or the total amount paid.

The principle behind this new development is simple: no employee is forced to give up their traditional salary. They can still receive their remuneration in cash, by bank transfer, or on a Mir card. The digital ruble simply adds an additional option for payment.

According to the central bank, this step was prepared since June when they set the tariff rules allowing companies and organizations to pay salaries and other remuneration in digital rubles. Until the end of 2026, these transfers are free for the payer. From January 2027, the fee will be one ruble per executed order, with a minimum of 15 rubles per register.

The rollout has accelerated significantly since September, with 87,000 digital ruble accounts already created and more than 50,000 transactions completed in just ten days. The digital ruble functions as a third form of Russian currency, alongside cash and rubles held in bank accounts. It is not a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin but rather a central bank-issued currency.