Deputy Governor of the Russian Central Bank: Digital Ruble Payment Network Scheduled for Launch in 2026

According to a report by Bitcoin.com, Anna Katamadze, the Deputy Governor of the Russian Central Bank, announced that the digital ruble payment network is scheduled to be launched in 2026. By then, citizens will be able to use this digital currency for payments through the central bank's platform wallets. This timeline is ahead of the previously expected industry launch in 2027. Progress in technical testing shows that 15 banks, 1,700 citizens, and about 30 companies are currently participating in the pilot. Although the initial deployment plan was postponed in March, the central bank governor Nabiullina emphasized that the delay was not related to the progress of the pilot. It is noteworthy that the Russian government has begun incorporating the digital ruble into the budget payment and subsidy distribution systems to enhance the transparency of fund flows.