The Bank of Russia will launch operations with real digital rubles on 15 August. During a press conference, the Bank’s first deputy chairman Olga Skorobogatova said.
As part of the pilot, the regulator will test opening digital wallets by banks and customers, transfers between users, and payments for services of retail and service enterprises using the CBDC.
Over one to two months, digital ruble operations will be tested among a small number of citizens and companies in 11 cities. About 600 people will be among the first customers, and 30 legal entities among the companies.
In due course, the number of participants will be increased.
One of the pilot projects will be the sale in the Moscow Metro of Troika souvenir cards and Wallet balance cards for fares with digital rubles. During the testing phase, employees included in the focus group will be able to use this payment method.
According to Skorobogatova, in the long term the introduction of the digital ruble will enable the establishment of a cross-border payments system with other countries.
The law on the digital ruble took effect 1 August. Russians will be able to widely use the asset in 2025–2027.
Earlier, the regulator set tariffs for CBDC operations.