The Central Bank of Russia has published a draft ordinance for consultation that would let companies use the digital ruble platform for register-based payments, enabling bulk disbursements to many beneficiaries in a single process. The proposal would support payroll, payments to contractors and vendors, and related tax payments, extending the platform beyond the basic transaction set currently available in the pilot. The register-payment mechanism is intended to speed up transactions, reduce errors in payment details and simplify document handling and accounting by removing the need to create a separate record for each beneficiary. The first users would be the companies and individuals already participating in the digital ruble pilot. The draft would also add a new chapter to the platform rules to establish a legal framework for cross-border settlements in central bank digital currencies. Comments are invited through 6 March 2026. Wider use of the digital ruble is scheduled to begin in September 2026, when the largest banks and trade companies will be required to make their infrastructure available for such transactions, while use by individuals will remain optional.
Central Bank of Russia2026-02-20
Central Bank of Russia consults on bulk digital ruble payments and cross-border CBDC settlement rules
The Central Bank of Russia is consulting on draft rules to let companies make bulk digital ruble payments, including payroll, supplier and contractor disbursements, and related tax payments. The draft also adds a legal framework for cross-border settlements in central bank digital currencies. Pilot participants would test the service first, ahead of broader digital ruble rollout from September 2026.