Russia pays wages in digital rubles for the first time
Russia digital ruble pays employees for the first time as rollout expands See how the CBDC is moving into budget payments despite EU sanctions pressure
Russia’s Ministry of Finance said some employees were paid in digital rubles for the first time, marking a new step in the country’s rollout of the central bank digital currency.
The ministry said the payments began on Oct. 1 and were made on a voluntary basis. It did not say how many workers received the currency or how much was paid in total.
Officials said the move follows earlier budgetspending trials in 2025 and is part of a broader effort by the Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance to integrate the digital ruble into the budget process. The currency, in development since 2021, has also faced sanctionsrelated restrictions from the European Union.