Regional and municipal budgets will begin working with the digital ruble in mid-2027. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Bank of Russia Zulfiya Kakhrumanova at a Federation Council meeting, where she specifically addressed the use of the third form of the national currency in the budget process.
Currently, only the federal budget can make payments in digital rubles. In the middle of next year, regional and municipal budgets will be added. The connection will take place in accordance with the Budget Code.
The digital ruble is the third form of the Russian national currency alongside cash and non-cash money. It is issued by the Bank of Russia.
Experiment with the Ministry of Finance and other Central Bank plans
The regulator began testing budget payments together with the Ministry of Finance last year. As part of the experiment, payments were made directly from the federal budget. According to Kakhrumanova, the funds reached recipients almost instantly. In addition, participants in the experiment tested receiving payments using various types of requisites.
At the same meeting, the regulator reported that it is studying the accrual of interest on digital ruble accounts. China serves as a reference point, where interest has been accrued on digital yuan balances since the beginning of 2026. No decision has been made yet; the issue is being worked on. If the idea is supported, the digital ruble will be able to generate income for its holders, rather than serving only for settlements.
Thirty-eight banks have already connected to the digital ruble platform. Accounts on it have been opened by 295,000 citizens and about 15,000 companies and individual entrepreneurs.
Cryptalist Analysis: The phased integration of the digital ruble into the budget system demonstrates the project's transition from the experimental phase to operational scaling, which strengthens state control over the targeted use of funds. The possible accrual of interest on balances could fundamentally change the economics of the instrument, turning it from a settlement means into a full-fledged savings asset. For the market, this is a signal of growing competition between the state digital currency and traditional bank deposits.