MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. The mass introduction of the digital ruble will begin after the completion of the pilot project, which is no earlier than 2025, the press service of the Bank of Russia told TASS.

"Currently, a pilot is underway on real digital rubles with a limited number of clients. This is a circle of Bank of Russia employees and clients of 13 banks. Next year the number of participants will expand, but will still remain limited. The pilot will continue at least until the end of 2024 and, if necessary, will be extended. Only after the completion of the pilot will the digital ruble be introduced into mass circulation," the regulator noted.

The Bank of Russia also noted that in August of this year, the regulator’s board of directors approved tariffs for transactions with digital rubles: any transactions with them for citizens (opening and replenishing digital wallets, paying for purchases and services, as well as transfers) will be carried out free of charge.

"Free transfers of digital rubles for any amount is one of the main advantages of the national digital currency. This will allow citizens not to depend on the conditions and limits that banks set for their transfers. At the same time, a person will choose for himself what to use - cash, non-cash or digital money - depending on your desire. As for business, the commission fee for accepting payments in digital rubles will be minimal - 0.3%," the regulator said.

About pilot project

On August 15, the Bank of Russia launched a pilot project using the digital ruble in real transactions. The first group of participants consists of 600 people and 30 businesses in eleven cities. The first test group of banks included Alfa Bank, Dom.RF Bank, Ingosstrakh Bank, VTB, Gazprombank, Qiwi Bank, Ak Bars Bank, MTS Bank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank, Sinara Bank , Rosbank and TKB Bank.