Gazprom, the Russian state oil company, has instructed its 17 subsidiaries to establish digital ruble accounts with the Central Bank of Russia. This move aligns with new regulations effective September 1, requiring legal entities to accept the digital ruble as a payment method. The digital ruble, which has been in testing since August 2023, saw over 130 legal entity accounts participating in its pilot by the end of 2025. From September 1, major Russian banks and enterprises are mandated to facilitate digital ruble transactions for their customers.