The launch of the digital ruble is scheduled for July 2025, but this new form of currency is currently under testing. At the end of 2024, experimental operations with the digital ruble were carried out by the Central Bank together with the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury of Russia as part of the budget process.

In addition, the digital ruble is supposed to be a means to simplify financial transfers. Experts believe that this fourth form of currency can become a key element for further automation of budget operations, especially in areas such as social payments and financing of government programs. Regulators also hope that the introduction of the digital ruble will help reduce the risks of corruption and abuse during the implementation of government projects.

The press service of the Central Bank of Russia reported on testing, during which separate operations with the digital ruble were carried out. At the moment, information about specific transactions is not disclosed. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance confirmed their participation in these trials, but stated that the use of the digital ruble for government payments to citizens is currently not envisaged.

According to the Central Bank, bank customers from various regions participated in the tests, without reference to any specific location. Nevertheless, Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, said that next week the issue of testing the digital ruble in the process of budget operations in the Chuvash Republic will be discussed.

Currently, the Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance continue to explore various possibilities for using the digital ruble, including its use at the regional level. However, experts emphasize that for the successful and large-scale implementation of this new currency, several key issues need to be resolved.