Russia Postpones Digital Ruble Launch to 2026 Amid Technical and Regulatory Hurdles

Russia’s digital ruble rollout has been pushed back to mid-2026 as the Central Bank tackles technical and regulatory challenges. The initial target of July 1, 2025 has been abandoned, with no specific new date confirmed by Chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina. Deputy Chair Zulfiya Kakhrumanova indicated the delay stemmed from concerns regarding technological independence, with each bank facing unique implementation difficulties. Banking executives cited concerns regarding transaction security during power outages and challenges in database management during the transition from Oracle-based solutions as contributing factors to the postponement.