Bank of Russia Explains How Businesses Can Accept Payments in Digital Rubles

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The Central Bank of Russia has outlined the procedures and timelines for Russian companies to start accepting payments in digital rubles. The new requirements will be introduced in stages, primarily targeting large retailers dealing with individual consumers.

Starting September 1, 2026, companies with annual revenue exceeding 120 million rubles will be required to accept digital ruble payments. A prerequisite is that these companies must have a contract for accepting electronic payments with a bank recognized as significant in the payment services market by January 1, 2026.

The next phase is scheduled for September 1, 2027, when the requirement will extend to sellers with annual revenue above 30 million rubles. These businesses must be serviced by significant banks or credit institutions with a universal license and have a contract for accepting non-cash payments.

By September 1, 2028, the obligation will apply to all companies with annual revenue of at least 20 million rubles. Businesses with revenue below 20 million rubles will be exempt from mandatory digital ruble acceptance. An exception is also made for retail outlets with annual revenue under 5 million rubles, even if they are part of a larger chain.

Merchants operating in areas without internet access will not be required to accept digital rubles. Until September 1, 2026, only participants in the pilot project, along with banks connected to the digital ruble platform, will be able to use this new form of national currency.

The Central Bank has also detailed the process for joining the system. Companies will need to approach a bank participating in the digital ruble platform, open a special account, sign a contract with the platform operator, and configure their cash registers. The payment process will be similar to that of the Quick Payment System (QR-code based payments with instant fund transfers).

It was clarified that digital rubles can be accepted not only in offline retail but also on websites and mobile apps. Additionally, until the end of 2026, businesses will benefit from a grace period during which no fees will be charged for digital ruble transactions.