Russians opened more than 220,000 digital rouble accounts during the first month of nationwide availability, the Bank of Russia said. The total was more than three times the central bank's forecast of about 60,000 accounts by the end of 2026. The wider launch began on 1 September after a pilot that had produced about 5,000 accounts.
The digital rouble is a direct claim on the central bank rather than money issued by a commercial bank or a cryptocurrency. Customers access accounts on the Bank of Russia's platform through participating banks' mobile applications. Individuals can add up to 300,000 roubles a month, while businesses face no top-up limit.
EARLY UPTAKE BEAT FORECASTS
Deputy Governor Zulfiya Kakhrumanova disclosed the account total at the FinTech x10 forum. The initial result suggests customer registrations moved considerably faster than the central bank expected after the service became broadly available. Account openings, however, do not show how frequently customers transact or how much value is moving through the system.
The project has faced scepticism from parts of the public and resistance from some commercial bankers. Sberbank chief executive German Gref has argued that banks already provide digital payment services, while President Vladimir Putin has asked authorities to explain more clearly how the central-bank currency differs from electronic payments. The Finance Ministry and central bank have also begun voluntary digital-rouble salary payments for some workers.
ROLLOUT EXTENDS IN STAGES
Major banks and large retailers were required to make digital-rouble infrastructure available from 1 September. Banks with universal licences and merchants with annual revenue above 30 million roubles are due to join the next mandatory phase in September 2027. Banks with basic licences and smaller qualifying merchants follow in September 2028.
The next measure of adoption will be transaction activity rather than the number of opened accounts. Usage by consumers, merchants and companies will indicate whether the early registration surge develops into a functioning payment channel. Participation in the next two rollout phases will also test how easily smaller banks and retailers can connect.