Almost a third of banks recognized as significant in the payment services market are not ready for the start of settlements in digital rubles. This is evidenced by data from the Central Bank. Experts believe that stimulating measures from the authorities will be required for their full use.

According to the Central Bank, in June 2026, only 26 credit organizations conducted operations with the digital ruble. PSB and VBRR, whose reports were not disclosed, also announced their work with the new form of national currency.

In early July, the regulator hid information on its website about organizations using the digital ruble. Deputy Chairman of the bank Zulfiya Kakhrumanova explained that this is "sensitive information" due to sanctions pressure from the West. According to her, 30 banks, 3.5 thousand people, and about 500 companies are currently using the digital ruble in pilot mode.

The mass introduction of the new form of national currency is scheduled for September 1. The head of the Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, stated earlier that everything is ready for this.

Digital Ruble Needs a Stimulus

As of July 1, the volume of digital rubles in accounts in banks disclosing their reports exceeded 25 million rubles. Roman Prokhorov, head of the board of the "Financial Innovations" association, noted that there will be few operations at first. All existing system flaws "will be eliminated in the process," he added.

Viktor Dostov, head of the Association of Electronic Money Market Participants, drew attention to the wait-and-see attitude of financial organizations. In his opinion, banks are counting on the state to take stimulating measures regarding the digital ruble. For example, if the authorities transfer payments to public sector employees to digital rubles.

In Russia, the digital ruble is not yet actively promoted. The advantages of the third form of national currency for the population are also not obvious, experts point out.