The commission-free period is needed so that as many people and organizations as possible can use the new unclaimed financial product. The increase in the period suggests that the deadline for the full launch of the digital ruble system is being pushed back.
From January 2026, a tariff should begin to apply for businesses, according to which a commission of 0.3% of the payment amount, but not more than 1,500 rubles, will be charged for accepting payments for goods and services in digital rubles (except for payments for housing and communal services). For housing and communal services companies, the commission will be 0.2% of the amount, but not more than 10 rubles. The commission for transfers in digital rubles between legal entities will be 15 rubles for each transaction.
The Bank of Russia stated that for Russian individuals, any transactions with state digital currency will always be free.
Earlier, the Izvestia newspaper, citing the Ministry of Industry and Trade, reported that retail chains are not ready to switch to payment in digital rubles. The ministry asked the government to extend the pilot project period for another two years to “refine trade information systems.”
The proposal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade drew criticism from the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, Anatoly Aksakov. He believes that large retail outlets will be able to connect to the digital ruble platform from July 1, 2025. According to the people’s representative, citizens of the country are showing great interest in the new means of payment, and the Central Bank, after pilot tests on using the technology in stores, did not reveal any difficulties in making payments.
Source: Bits
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