Первые шаги в цифровом рубле: Аксаков получает зарплату в новой валюте First Steps in Digital Ruble: Aksakov Receives Salary in New Currency

In Russia, the first salary payment has been made in digital rubles. The recipient was Anatoly Aksakov, the chairman of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee, as reported by RBC, citing a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

«The initial budget payment in digital rubles has been successfully completed. The Treasury of Russia executed the first salary disbursement in digital rubles to an individual occupying a governmental position in the Russian Federation,» the statement reads.

Aksakov opted to receive his payment voluntarily. The funds were transferred to his personal digital wallet on the Central Bank’s platform.

The deputy also conducted several transactions: he donated to the “Line of Life” foundation, which assists children with illnesses, supported the charity organization “SOS Children’s Villages,” and paid for an order at the restaurant “Teremok.”

The Ministry of Finance clarified that disbursements in digital rubles would only be conducted upon the recipients’ wishes.

The large-scale introduction of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) into the Russian market is scheduled for September 2026, following the signing of the relevant law by President Vladimir Putin.

Starting next autumn, banks will be required to offer clients the ability to conduct transactions with the national digital currency. The final implementation of the currency is planned for September 1, 2028.

The foundational law concerning the digital ruble came into effect on August 1, 2023. It was expected that the largest Russian banks would open access for citizens to conduct transactions involving it by July 2025.

It is worth noting that Russian authorities plan to impose fines for payments made in cryptocurrency for goods and services starting in 2026.