The Bank of Russia announced the specifics of using the digital ruble in its September 12, 2024 information letter.
By July 1, 2025, the largest Russian banks will have to allow their clients to conduct operations with digital rubles. Clients will open and top up digital ruble accounts, make transfers, and accept digital rubles. Banks with a universal license must comply with this requirement from July 1, 2026, and other credit institutions — from July 1, 2027. Besides, the Bank of Russia plans to establish deadlines for mandatory acceptance of payments in digital rubles for trade and service enterprises. Companies will have to accept payments in digital rubles from July 1, 2025, if their annual revenue is more than 30 million rubles, either from July 1, 2026, if their annual revenue is more than 20 billion rubles, and the rest of the enterprises have to start to accept digital rubles from July 1, 2027.
