The Russian State Duma has finally adopted (in second and third readings) the law on the phased introduction of the digital ruble into wide circulation, TASS reports. The legislation also provides for the integration of a universal QR code for payment for goods and services into the payment system of the Russian Federation. The project was initiated by a group of deputies and senators led by Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the parliamentary committee on financial markets.
The introduction of the possibility of paying with digital rubles will take place in stages, with the deadlines for merchants depending on their annual turnover and the bank servicing them:
From September 1, 2026, the obligation comes into force for merchants with annual revenues of over 120 million rubles, who are clients of systemically important banks or those designated by the Central Bank as key to the payment services market. From September 1, 2027, the scope is expanded to merchants with revenues of over 30 million rubles. From September 1, 2028, the obligation will apply to all other merchants. The same deadlines apply to banks, which must ensure the technical ability of their clients to carry out transactions with digital rubles.
The “National Payment Card System” (NPCS) will take on the role of the operator of the universal payment code. All participants in the digital ruble platform – including branches of foreign banks – will have to guarantee users the possibility of transfers using this code. Payment service providers will be obliged to provide transfer data only in the form of a universal QR code. To do this, they must integrate the code into all their software systems and technical devices (for example, POS terminals) used for cashless payments.
Citizens will also use the universal code to transfer digital rubles to legal entities, sole proprietors and individuals practicing liberal professions (notaries, lawyers, mediators, receivers, appraisers, patent agents), as well as to self-insured persons.
The law obliges merchants and online platforms (aggregators) with an annual turnover of over 20 million rubles to provide the ability to pay with digital currency. Exceptions are made for sites located in areas without Internet coverage, as well as for the smallest businesses with annual revenues of less than 5 million rubles.
“A key point is that the unified QR code will be provided free of charge. This will optimize the costs of banks and commercial enterprises and stimulate the widespread adoption of this convenient payment service,” commented Anatoly Aksakov on his Telegram channel.
The law comes into force on September 1, 2026.
Illustrative photo: 25 Roubles (1700-1917); Composition: Paper; Size: 178 × 108 mm; Shape: Rectangular; Demonetized: Yes; Obverse: Simple design with Imperial crowned double headed eagle on the front and sunburst underprint design.
Lettering Translation:
State
credit note
twenty five
roubles
The state bank exchanges credit notes for gold coin without a limit on the amount of 1 rouble = 1/15 imperial, contains 17,424 pure gold
