The requirements of the Bank of Russia for accepting digital rubles from September 1, 2026. Who will be affected by the changes, whether new equipment is needed.

The digital ruble in Russia is the third form of national currency, which is gradually being introduced into the country’s financial system. After successful testing, the Bank of Russia is transferring the project from the pilot stage to practical implementation, and starting from September 1, 2026, part of the business will be required to accept payments in the digital currency of Russia.

The introduction of the digital ruble into banks and payment systems is a fundamental change that will affect retail chains, service companies, and financial institutions. Using the digital ruble as a means of payment will open up new opportunities: it will speed up payments, reduce fees, and increase transaction security.

In this article, we look at which companies will have to accept the digital ruble in 2026, whether they need to buy new equipment, and what steps businesses should take now. The information is based on the official explanations of the Bank of Russia.

What is a digital ruble?

The digital ruble is a new form of Russian currency along with cash and non—cash rubles.

The main thing to understand is that all three forms of the ruble are absolutely equivalent. One cash ruble = one non-cash ruble = one digital ruble. There will be no fees when exchanging between them — the conversion is carried out at the rate of 1:1. This means that the money supply in the country will not change, there will just be another way to pay.

The digital ruble is issued and guaranteed by the Bank of Russia, just as it is responsible for cash. This is not a cryptocurrency or a separate asset. This is an ordinary ruble, but in digital format.

All interaction with the digital ruble will take place through banks — through mobile applications and websites of financial institutions that are connected to this platform. Banks assume the role of an intermediary: they identify the client, verify his identity and ensure interaction with the digital ruble platform.

When should banks connect to the digital ruble

The introduction of the digital ruble into banks is taking place in stages. The Bank of Russia does not require all financial institutions to connect to the platform at the same time — the timing depends on the scale of the bank and its role in the payments market.

September 1, 2026 — the first stage of implementation. From this date, the largest systemically important banks in the country are required to provide customers with the opportunity to use digital rubles: open digital wallets, transfer money and pay for purchases. It is through these banks that the mass use of the digital ruble as a new payment instrument will begin.

After the connection, banks will be able to:

• open digital wallets to clients;
• make transfers between users;
• provide access to the digital ruble in payment systems and mobile banking applications;
• connect trading companies to accept payments.

In fact, banks will become the interface between users and the Bank of Russia platform. Through them, the main use of the digital ruble will take place — from transfers between people to payment for purchases.

The second stage is September 1, 2027. All banks with a universal license must be connected to the platform. Their clients — companies and ordinary users — will also have access to transactions with the new form of money.

Starting from September 1, 2028, all banks, including organizations with a basic license, as well as enterprises with an annual turnover of over 5 million rubles, are required to provide customers with the opportunity to pay in digital currency.

For users, this means that the digital ruble as a means of payment will be available through familiar banking applications, and its use will practically not differ from regular online payments.

Who will be required to accept the digital ruble and when

From September 1, 2026, the requirement to accept payments in digital rubles will apply to retail and service companies – shops, cafes, beauty salons and other enterprises that work with retail customers. But not all at once.

The obligation will affect companies with annual revenues of over 120 million rubles. These are approximately medium-sized and large chain stores, large service centers and retail chains. Small shops and small salons can accept the digital ruble voluntarily, but they are not required to.

There is one more condition: the company must be serviced by a bank that the Bank of Russia has recognized as significant in the payment services market. In other words, in a large bank. This takes into account the existence of an acquiring agreement with such a bank as of January 1, 2026. If you already have a contract for accepting payments via terminals, then you are subject to the requirement.

Thus, if your company is a retail chain or service with revenue of more than 120 million rubles per year and an acquisition agreement with a large bank, then from September 2026 you will need to prepare for accepting digital rubles.

Does a business need to buy new equipment

For most companies, switching to the digital ruble in Russia will not require the purchase of new equipment. If a business already accepts payments through a Fast Payment System, then the infrastructure for working with the new form of money is most likely already ready.

The Bank of Russia initially designed the digital ruble as a means of payment that can be integrated into existing payment solutions. Therefore, in many cases, the use of the digital ruble will take place through the same tools as payment through the SBP.

The payment scenario will look familiar to the client.:

• The customer scans the universal QR code at the checkout;
• selects the payment method;
• confirms the payment via the digital ruble in the banking application.

In fact, the digital ruble in payment systems will work according to the same logic as fast transfers. This simplifies the digital ruble for businesses — most companies will not have to change their cash register solutions or terminals.

What a business needs to do to get started

To start accepting the digital ruble in 2026, the company needs to connect to the Bank of Russia platform through a servicing bank.

The first step is to open a digital ruble account. This is done through a bank that is already involved in the implementation of the digital ruble in banks and is connected to the digital currency platform.

The bank will help the company:

• open an account;
• connect the digital ruble in the company’s payment systems;
• set up payment acceptance at cash desks, on the website or in the mobile application.

After activation, the business will be able to accept payments in the same way as other non-cash payments.

What does this mean for banks

For banks, the digital ruble is a new infrastructural challenge. In order for customers to use the new form of money, financial institutions need to connect to the Bank of Russia’s digital ruble platform and integrate it with their internal systems.

Banks also need to ensure the use of the digital ruble in mobile applications, online banking and other services through which payments take place.

As the implementation dates approach, many banks have already begun preparations. The work usually takes place in several stages:

• analysis of the requirements of the Bank of Russia;
• designing the integration architecture;
• adaptation of internal IT systems;
• connection of the digital ruble in the bank’s payment systems.

According to market participants, a significant part of credit institutions is currently at the stage of preparing infrastructure and discussing technical solutions. The introduction of the digital ruble into banks takes time, as it affects key elements of banking systems.

“For our company, 2025 has become a period of intensive practical work. In a relatively short period of time — about nine months — we managed to launch a pilot project with one of the largest banks, and several more projects are in the final stages of preparation. For an initiative of this magnitude, this dynamic looks like it’s working and shows that the market is gradually moving from discussions to practical implementation.”

 — Andrey Bloshchetsov, CEO of Right line

As the digital ruble moves from the pilot stage to mass use in 2026, the number of banks connected to the platform will gradually grow. As a result, Russia’s digital currency will become available through most banking services, just as regular cashless payments are available today.