Russia Unveils Digital Ruble on September 1, Cryptocurrency Payments Remain Banned
Russia will launch its digital ruble on September 1, allowing major telecom firms and e-commerce businesses to start accepting the state-backed currency. The rollout is part of the country's efforts to promote the digital ruble in daily transactions while keeping cryptocurrency payments banned.
The Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina has confirmed that 'technologically, everything is ready' for the launch. Three out of four major mobile phone operators - MTS, Rostelecom, and MegaFon - have announced their support for the digital ruble, with payments to be processed through existing banking apps.
The digital ruble will initially be accepted by online marketplaces Wildberries and Ozon, which are among Russia's biggest e-commerce platforms. However, the country's law requires all retailers with major banks and gross revenue exceeding 120 million rubles (approximately $1.5 million) to accept payments in digital rubles starting from September 2026.