Russia's Ministry of Finance has announced that it has begun paying employee wages in digital rubles, utilizing accounts opened on the Bank of Russia platform. Several ministry employees received these payments for the first time on October 1.
The move follows the official launch of the digital ruble on September 1, which saw major banks and retail trading companies open their infrastructure for transactions using the new central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to the ministry, the option to receive wages in the digital currency is available to all Russian citizens upon request.
To support these developments, the institution has been working with the Bank of Russia to integrate the digital ruble into the national budget process, following a series of updates to the country's budget code.
Additionally, Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, indicated that the country's ATM network could be linked to the digital ruble platform next year. Aksakov stated that the technological task is feasible and could enable direct cash withdrawals from ATMs, potentially easing movement between fiat and digital currency platforms.
Earlier in September, Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina noted that the central bank is implementing changes to improve the digital ruble's user experience and encourage broader adoption among citizens.
