Russia Uses Digital Ruble for State Contract Payment for the First Time
During the construction of the Moscow metro, a state contract was settled using the digital ruble for the first time in the country.
Russia has completed its first-ever payment under a state contract using the digital ruble, with a transaction between VTB and Mosinzhproekt for metro construction work. The payment was carried out within expanded limits set by the Central Bank of Russia, according to Vladimir Yefimov, Moscow’s deputy mayor for urban development and construction. A key feature of the transaction was that four contractors simultaneously used the digital ruble.
Rent and Salaries
The rollout of the digital ruble in infrastructure projects in the capital is being coordinated by the Moscow Department of Economic Policy and Development. Together with Mosinzhproekt, the city plans to expand the list of transactions paid in digital rubles. These could include equipment rental, salary payments, and other expense items.
According to Maria Bagreeva, head of the department, the Central Bank’s decision to raise transaction limits signals that the platform is ready for broader use. In 2026, the number of digital ruble transactions in the financial and operational activities of Moscow-based organizations is expected to increase.
Using the digital ruble in state construction contracts also opens up new opportunities for analyzing budget spending. The city gains granular data on how funds move across contractor chains, making it easier to assess project costs, account for inflation, and factor in seasonal price fluctuations. As a result, the efficiency of using the city’s budget for large infrastructure projects is expected to rise significantly.
