The Federal Treasury has received its first payment in digital money, with approximately 1,500 digital rubles credited to its account. The announcement was made by the head of the department, Roman Artyukhin, during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. According to Artyukhin, this marked the first budget contribution made using the country’s new digital currency – specifically, an administrative fine.
Roman Artyukhin also confirmed that the Treasury is technically prepared to begin accepting payments in digital rubles as of January 1, 2026. Together with the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Russia, the department is currently identifying which types of expenditures and payments can be transitioned to the new digital platform. Discussions are underway regarding the use of the digital ruble for certain subsidies and infrastructure projects.
The Bank of Russia has already launched pilot operations involving select banks and a limited group of clients. The next phase will focus on expanding the necessary infrastructure. According to the current timeline, starting September 1, 2026, major banks and large businesses will be required to support digital ruble payments. Following this, the new form of currency is expected to gradually become part of everyday retail transactions and government programs.
“The digital ruble has the potential to significantly enhance control and oversight of monetary flows within the economy. This will be particularly valuable for improving tax collection and helping to prevent various types of financial violations,” commented Sergei Khestanov, an economist and associate professor at RANEPA.