Plastic cards are living out their last years. Georgy Gorshkov, Chairman of the Board of WB Bank, stated at the Financial Congress of the Bank of Russia that the share of QR payments will double in the next two to three years. According to his estimates, there are currently about 550 million cards in circulation – this is about 250 billion rubles in net costs for the market.
The numbers support the forecast: according to the Central Bank, the share of alternative payment methods – QR codes, biometrics, and payment applications – reached 14.9% in the first quarter of 2026. Cards still account for almost 60% of transactions, but the trend of abandoning plastic has already been formed. Gorshkov believes that the scaling of the universal QR code will play a key role in this transition.
From September 1, 2026, all banks are obliged to ensure the acceptance of the universal payment QR code. Systemically important players must also provide access to the digital ruble from the same date, and then the requirement will extend to others.
The Central Bank previously stated that Visa and Mastercard cards are gradually being withdrawn from circulation. The transition from plastic to pixel is becoming not just a convenience, but a direct saving of hundreds of billions of rubles for the entire payment system.
Read more on the topic:
- Universal QR code for cashless payments to be introduced in Russia from September 1
- The QR code scam scheme was exposed in the Federation Council
- NSPK announced the introduction of offline QR code payment in 2026