Russian central bank bets on digital ruble to beat economic headaches

Russia's central bank is betting the digital ruble, launching September 1, can help fix the economy's problems with corruption and sanctions, though public and banking support remains low. A 2025 poll found 51% of Russians unwilling to adopt it, and only 7% said the central bank had kept them well-informed. The regulator has ordered major banks and retailers to offer digital ruble services from September 1, with medium-sized banks given until 2028 at the latest for the rest. Officials including Anatoly Aksakov cite its potential to fight bribery and track budget spending, while Yuriy Brisov, a legal expert at Digital and Analogue Partners, says it solves no problem consumers actually face.