BusinessNov 10, 2026, 11:55 AM UTC·1 min read

Digital Ruble: Russians Open 306,000 Wallets, 5x the Central Bank Plan

In two months of rollout, Russians and businesses opened 306,000 digital ruble wallets and made 235,000 transactions, far above the Bank of Russia's year-end target.

Illustration of a digital ruble coin beside a smartphone showing a banking wallet app. — Image: rb.ru

Russian individuals and companies have opened 306,000 wallets on the Bank of Russia's digital ruble platform in the first two months of its mass rollout, according to the regulator's press service. Between September and October, users made 235,000 transactions with the new form of the national currency.

The central bank had expected 60,000 wallets by the end of the year. An investment strategist at Garda Capital, Alexander Bakhtin, noted that the figure already exceeds that plan fivefold. Nearly 290,000 of the wallets belong to private individuals. Most operations so far are incoming transfers to wallets.

Curiosity drives adoption

A earlier survey found that the main reason Russians opened a digital ruble account was simply the wish to try a new technology. Another reason, cited by 36% of respondents, was the ability to open an account directly in a bank's app.

Regular use will require more incentives. Respondents named wider acceptance in shops (42%) and the ability to use digital rubles without an internet connection (38%) among the most wanted conditions.

The most active users, according to the reports, are men aged 36 to 45 who also hold savings and investment products. Moscow accounts for about 14% of clients who opened accounts.

Phased rollout until 2028

The digital ruble is the third form of the national currency alongside cash and non-cash rubles; one digital ruble equals one ruble in either of the other forms. Connection began in phases on 1 September 2026, starting with the largest banks and retailers with annual revenue above 120 million rubles. Access will be expanded step by step until September 2028, so the user base is likely to keep growing as more participants join.

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