Russia’s Finance Ministry pays wages in digital rubles for first time
Summary
Russia’s Ministry of Finance said some employees were paid in digital rubles for the first time. The central bank digital currency is being introduced on a voluntary basis for citizens, and the ministry said it used the same payment rails tested during 2025 federal budget trials, when about 16 million digital rubles were disbursed. It did not say how many workers were paid or the total amount. The Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance are jointly integrating the digital ruble into the budget process. The currency was developed starting in 2021 and has faced EU sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
