Aksakov Receives First Salary in Digital Rubles

First salary in digital rubles paid in Russia to Anatoly Aksakov.

The first salary in digital rubles has been paid in Russia. The recipient was Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the Duma Committee on Financial Markets, according to RBC, citing a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

“The first budget payment in digital rubles has been successfully completed. The Treasury of Russia made the first salary payment in digital rubles to a person holding a state position in the Russian Federation,” the statement reads.

Aksakov received the payment at his own request. The funds were transferred to his personal digital wallet on the Central Bank’s platform.

The deputy also conducted several transactions: he transferred funds to the children’s charity fund “Line of Life” and the charitable organization “SOS Children’s Villages,” and paid for an order at the restaurant “Teremok.”

The Ministry of Finance clarified that payments in digital rubles will only be made if the recipients wish so.

The widespread introduction of CBDC in the Russian market is scheduled for September 2026. President Vladimir Putin has signed the corresponding law.

From next autumn, banks will be required to offer clients the ability to conduct transactions with the national digital currency. The full implementation of the asset is planned for September 1, 2028.

The basic law on the digital ruble in Russia came into effect on August 1, 2023. It was expected that the largest Russian banks would provide citizens access to operations with it by July 2025.

Russian authorities plan to introduce fines for paying for goods and services with cryptocurrency starting in 2026.