Russians to Access Loans in Digital Rubles This Fall
Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the State Duma’s financial market committee, announced that digital ruble loans will launch on September 1, 2026. The topic is set to be discussed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, running from June 3 to 6.
According to Aksakov, the country’s largest banks are already negotiating to connect to the new instrument and will begin offering clients operations in digital currency starting this fall.
"We have already entered the negotiation process. I expect that starting September 1, let’s say from the last quarter of this year, we can launch this project, and the entire country will be able to see how it works," Aksakov said.
The digital ruble will become the third form of Russian currency—alongside traditional cash and non-cash money. Aksakov hopes the credit product will stimulate citizens’ interest in this new form of payment. Participation in the digital ruble system will remain voluntary – no one will be forced to join.
