Russia has moved the digital ruble beyond restricted pilot access, allowing customers of connected banks to open wallets and conduct transactions from September 1, 2026. Wallets remain on the Bank of Russia platform, while commercial banks provide access through their mobile applications. Consumer participation is voluntary: banks, employers and other parties cannot open wallets automatically, and customers face no enrollment deadline. All 12 systemically significant banks are ready to provide digital-ruble services, representing more than 80% of Russia's payments market, while most of nine additional payment-significant banks are ready and three may need until the end of 2026 to connect. Retailers whose prior-year revenue exceeded 120 million rubles and that had an electronic-payment agreement with a payment-services-significant bank as of January 1, 2026, must accept digital rubles. Individuals may add up to 300,000 rubles per calendar month from bank accounts or electronic money, although the limit does not apply to spending or transfers from existing wallet balances. Individual payments and transfers are free, and businesses receive a fee holiday through December 31, 2026. The rollout places the digital ruble alongside cash and conventional electronic rubles, while cryptocurrency remains subject to restrictions on domestic payments, taxation and supervised cross-border use.