Digital Ruble Q&A: What Businesses in Russia Need to Know

In this interview Tatyana Shkarupeta explains how the digital ruble works, which businesses must accept it and what companies need to prepare.

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Tatyana Shkarupeta

CEO, Founder

He has been active in business process outsourcing since 2005 as the owner and CEO of Outsourcing Solutions, a company specializing in providing accounting and legal services to Russian and foreign small and medium-sized enterprises.

How it works

No. It is a form of Russia’s national currency issued by the Bank of Russia, alongside cash and non-cash rubles. It is not equivalent to Bitcoin or USDT.

Is the digital ruble a cryptocurrency?

Tatyana:

All three forms have the same value: one digital ruble equals one cash or non-cash ruble.

How much is it worth?

Tatyana:

It is held in an account on the Bank of Russia’s platform. Customers access that account through a participating bank’s usual app.

Where is it held?

Tatyana:

Companies can receive payments for goods and services, settle with other businesses and make transfers. Payments to the government may become available as the platform develops.

What can it be used for?

Tatyana:

When businesses must accept payments

The requirement applies in stages to sellers serving individuals for personal use:

From 1 September 2026: sellers with revenue above RUB 120 million in 2025 that had an acquiring agreement with a bank designated as significant in the payment services market on 1 January 2026.
From 1 September 2027: sellers with revenue above RUB 30 million in the preceding year that had an agreement to accept electronic payments with a significant bank or a bank holding a universal licence on 1 January 2026.
From 1 September 2028: other sellers with revenue of at least RUB 20 million in the preceding year.

A sales outlet with annual revenue below RUB 5 million, or one located where internet access is unavailable, is exempt. Companies with total annual revenue below RUB 20 million are not required to offer this payment method.

Which companies are covered by the rollout?

Tatyana:

The Bank of Russia publishes the current list in its official register. The company should check its revenue and the payment acceptance agreements it had in place on 1 January 2026.

How can a company check whether its bank is designated as significant?

Tatyana:

Preparing to accept payments

There are four practical steps:

Open a digital ruble account. Contact a bank connected to the platform. Through its online banking system, the company signs the account agreement directly with the Bank of Russia, which operates the platform.
Enable payment acceptance. Customers must be able to choose this method when paying for the company’s goods or services.
Adapt the checkout process. Cash registers, payment equipment and internal records must reflect the new method correctly.
Set up accounting for the account. The finance team needs a process for recording its transactions.

What does a company need to do?

Tatyana:

No. The rollout requirement concerns accepting payments from customers; it does not require a company to use digital rubles for its own purchases.

Must the company also pay its suppliers this way?

Tatyana:

“

The aim digital ruble is to make payments faster, cheaper and more secure through the Bank of Russia’s platform. In time, cross-border transfers may also become possible, but that depends on connecting Russia’s payment infrastructure with systems in other countries.

Tatyana Shkarupeta, the owner and CEO of Outsourcing Solutions

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