Astrakhan explained the rules of using the digital ruble
Since September 1, 2026, the digital ruble has become a full-fledged third form of money in Russia, along with cash and bank cards. Over the past two months, more than 270,000 digital accounts have been opened across the country
Vladimir Kosenkov, Head of the Bank of Russia’s Astrakhan Region Branch, explained how this system works and why it does not accelerate inflation.
The digital ruble is absolutely equal in value to ordinary money – it can be paid in stores or transferred to friends. The choice of payment form is always up to the person.
To start using the system, it is enough to open a digital wallet through the mobile application of any of the 36 banks connected to the Central Bank platform. At the same time, 21 largest banks participate in the project without fail, and another 15 joined on their own initiative.
The main financial advantage for citizens is free. Transfers between people and payment of purchases are not subject to any fees. The only limitation: you can replenish a digital wallet with a regular card for no more than 300 thousand rubles a month, but you can withdraw money back without any limits.
Businesses also appreciated the benefits of the innovation. Until the end of 2026, there is a grace period with a zero commission for entrepreneurs. In the future, the tariff will be only 0.3%, which is significantly cheaper than standard banking acquiring and will allow companies to significantly reduce costs.
Vladimir Kosenkov also hastened to reassure skeptics: we are not talking about the mandatory transfer of salaries to “digital”, this case is purely voluntary.
The new currency does not affect inflation, since it is not the issue of new money, but simply the movement of existing funds between accounts. In the future, the digital ruble can become a convenient channel for international payments.
