Russia Expands Digital Ruble Pilot Program: Over 20 Banks Join and Crimea Joins the Experiment

The Russian government continues its expansion of the digital ruble pilot program, with over 20 banks now actively participating. This comes as the program gains momentum, processing over 90,000 transactions and attracting nearly 2,500 users across various regions. This effort is part of Russia’s plan to implement a central bank digital currency (CBDC), aiming for full deployment in 2026.