The Russian Ministry of Finance pays employee salaries in digital rubles for the first time

According to ChainCatcher, the Russian Ministry of Finance said on Friday that some employees have received their salaries in digital rubles for the first time. The payment of wages in central bank digital currency is voluntary for Russian citizens and will be implemented from October 1 (Thursday). The ministry did not disclose the number of participants or total salary payments, nor did it specify the specific departments involved.

According to a press release from the ministry, approximately 16 million digital rubles (approximately $192,200) were disbursed in the 2025 federal budget expenditure pilot, and the Ministry of Finance therefore applied the verified channel to its own payroll process. The integration of the digital ruble into the budget process is being promoted jointly by the Central Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance.

Digital ruble development begins in 2021. Cointelegraph reported on July 2 that Russia plans to launch the central bank’s digital currency on September 1, when major banks and retail companies will begin to support related transactions. The currency will be launched as a supplement to the legal tender ruble and will initially be accepted by financial and credit institutions. EU authorities had announced restrictions on the currency in April.