Russia Just Closed Its First Real Estate Deal in Digital Rubles

Russia has taken another step in testing its state-backed digital currency, using it to buy an apartment in Moscow. The move shows how quickly the country is pushing the digital ruble from pilot projects into everyday use.

A Russian bank and a private company have completed the country’s first real estate transaction in digital rubles, according to VTB Bank. Both parties received prior approval from the Central Bank of Russia and registered wallets on the platform before executing the deal.

The buyer reserved an apartment in a Moscow residential complex and made the payment via the bank’s mobile app. The transaction cleared instantly after scanning a QR code, a demonstration of the system’s technical readiness.

The launch comes as Russia accelerates its rollout of the digital ruble. A law passed by the State Duma requires banks to begin offering digital currency operations starting September 1.

Pilot projects have already included paying student stipends and settling fines in digital rubles. Regulators are also exploring automatic compensation for flight delays and social benefits for parents of home-schooled children.

Experts caution that users will need a separate account for the new currency, but banks say the infrastructure is fully prepared. The Central Bank has stressed that each unit of the digital ruble is a unique token with its own identifier, making it resistant to fraud and counterfeiting.

Taken together, the first transactions show that Russia’s national digital currency is moving beyond the experimental stage — and into real-world adoption.