Knowledge base
Digital ruble timeline
Key project and rollout stages, separating the pilot, bank duties, and the conditions applicable to merchants.
Last editorial review: 4 August 2026
2023 · Legal foundation and pilot
Legislation established the digital-ruble platform, the Bank of Russia's operator role, and the framework for digital-ruble accounts. Operations began within a limited pilot.
Until 1 September 2026 · Limited access
The Bank of Russia states that operations remain available to pilot participants — a limited group of banks, individuals, and organisations — until the broad rollout stage.
From 1 September 2026 · First broad stage
- the largest banks must make operations available to customers;
- conditions in law apply to certain merchants served by those banks, including a revenue threshold;
- opening an account and using digital rubles remain voluntary for individuals.
2027–2028 · Later stages
The published roadmap provides for later groups of banks and merchants to join in stages. The current legal text, thresholds, and exemptions must be checked again before relying on a future date.
This timeline describes the published roadmap; it is not a promise that future dates cannot change.
RURChain is an independent information and analysis project. It is not a Bank of Russia website or a government information system.