Moscow’s Department of Transport объявил the start of testing the digital ruble in the metro. For now, the CBDC can be used to buy only the Troika transit card.
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Over time, the number of products and services supporting the third form of the Russian currency will expand.
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Deputy Mayor Maxim Liksutov noted that test participants had already bought two types of Troikas, including 12 souvenir cards and one with a topped-up wallet balance.
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The initiative was supported by the Bank of Russia and VTB. The project was the first fintech initiative implemented in public transport in collaboration with the Bank of Russia, added Liksutov.
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“We must provide residents with all the most modern and relevant domestic payment services. This corresponds to the task set by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin,” concluded the deputy mayor.
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The testing of the digital ruble started on 15 August. It was joined by 13 banks, including Alfa-Bank, DOM.RF, Ingosstrakh Bank, VTB, Gazprombank, KiVi Bank, Ak Bars Bank, MTS Bank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank, Sinara Bank, Rosbank and TKB Bank.
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In October, representatives of the Central Bank stated that experimental CBDC operations largely take place on Android as the most popular and loyal platform. Meanwhile, iOS users face problems due to blocks by sanctioned banks.
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The law on the national digital currency took effect 1 августа. Citizens will be able to use the new payment instrument in 2025–2027.
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In September, the Russian Finance Ministry clarified the accounting rules for transactions with the digital ruble.
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Later, banks calculated the costs of implementing the technology. Rosbank estimated its two-year costs at 150 million rubles.