Russia’s New MAX Messenger May Soon Integrate Government and Banking Services

The locally developed MAX app is expanding fast, with plans to include digital government and financial services to compete with foreign platforms.

Russia’s MAX messenger app may soon offer integrated access to government and banking services. Launched in 2025 the domestic platform is already being touted by Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev as on par with its foreign counterparts.

If the plan to embed digital state and financial services into MAX is implemented the app could surpass some global alternatives in terms of functionality.

A beta version of the app was released in March. Users currently have access to messaging, voice and video calls as well as file sharing. The app already includes financial tools from select Russian banks.

Designed to work on low-end and older devices MAX also functions under limited internet connectivity—making it more accessible to a broader user base. Future updates are expected to include a suite of mini-applications, according to a company spokesperson quoted by Kommersant.