Russia's Finance Ministry Pays Employees in Digital Rubles for First Time

Russia's Finance Ministry has begun paying some employees in digital rubles for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the country's central bank digital currency (CBDC) rollout. The ministry announced on October 1 that employees had started receiving salary payments in digital rubles, following a pilot disbursement of 16 million digital rubles earlier this year.

The ministry stated that the digital ruble payments are available to citizens on a voluntary basis, and employees who choose to receive their wages in digital rubles must open a digital ruble account on the Bank of Russia's platform.

The rollout is part of a broader effort to expand the use of digital rubles in the country's financial system. The Bank of Russia has been conducting trials of the digital ruble since 2025, covering core transfers, budget payments, and smart contracts.

The ministry linked the payroll rollout to the earlier federal budget spending trials, which aimed to test the digital ruble's use in government transactions. The Bank of Russia has announced plans to link the digital ruble platform to the country's ATM network next year, making it possible for citizens to withdraw digital rubles from ATMs.