Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a forum organized by the state bank VTB, discussed the prospects of the digital ruble and bitcoin.

Speaking from the stage in front of the event participants, Putin said that the country’s authorities intend to integrate settlements using the Central Bank’s digital currency into the Russian financial system from 2025.

“As agreed, starting next year, payments using the digital ruble should be used in the federal budget system, and from July 1, 2025, such an opportunity should be available throughout the country,” Putin said.

According to him, no one in the world “can ban” the use of electronic means of payment:

“Processes are taking place involving the use of other tools. For example, who can cancel Bitcoin? Nobody”.

In October, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market Anatoly Aksakov said that retail chains are able to provide customers with the opportunity to pay for purchases using the digital ruble from July 1. However, the Ministry of Industry and Trade did not agree with his position. The department stated that retail chains are not ready to switch to digital ruble payments and asked the government to provide an additional period of two years to finalize trade information systems.