Testing of the digital ruble in real transactions and with real customers will begin in April 2023. The Bank of Russia said that sanctions against the Russian banking system prompted an acceleration of the pilot, according to Olga Skorobogatova, the regulator’s first deputy chair. Forbes reports.
Originally, testing of the digital asset in real operations was planned to begin in 2024.
Skorobogatova also said that in the pilot project the Bank of Russia intends to use smart contracts from April 2024.
Earlier, the head of the Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, said that the first real settlements under the digital ruble pilot would begin next year.
The central bank also spoke of the impossibility of using cryptocurrencies to circumvent sanctions, particularly for large-value payments.
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