Russia will begin testing the digital rouble on August 15

The Bank of Russia has announced that a pilot programme to test the functioning of the digital rouble will begin on 15 August. Thirteen banks will take part in the programme and a limited number of their customers will be able to carry out various operations, including opening digital wallets and paying for purchases, with a view to a nationwide introduction by 2025.

"The launch of pilot operations with real digital roubles is the most important stage of the project," said Olga Skorobogatova, First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia. 

She explained that during this testing phase, the Bank of Russia will have the opportunity to test the operation of the digital rouble platform in a real industrial environment, working out all the necessary procedures with the participation of customers and adjusting them if necessary. 

During this first phase of testing, it will be possible to perform basic operations, including opening and topping up digital rouble accounts, as well as carrying out digital rouble transfers between citizens, simple automatic payments and paying for purchases and services using a QR code at 30 points of sale located in 11 Russian cities.

The Bank of Russia has indicated that the list of pilot participants is scheduled to be expanded by the end of 2023. 

"We plan to introduce the digital rouble into mass circulation depending on the results of the phased testing and subject to the successful completion of the pilot test in all scenarios for digital rouble operations," the bank has explained.

"We expect that from 2025, citizens and businesses will be able to actively use the national digital currency," Skorobogatova added, stressing that the use of the digital rouble will be a decision of each citizen.