The Central Bank of Russia has announced the official launch of the digital ruble, the country's central bank digital currency (CBDC), set for September 1, 2026. Major commercial banks in Russia will begin offering a full suite of CBDC trading options by September 2025, with smaller and regional banks following in September 2027. The Central Bank has submitted a draft bill to the State Duma to expedite the integration of CBDC requirements into Russian law. The digital ruble is expected to be interoperable with digital currencies from other BRICS nations, potentially facilitating cross-border trade and helping Russian traders circumvent sanctions.