Russia’s ‘digital ruble’ goes live on September 1. Here’s what we know.

On September 1, the digital ruble will go live in Russia. This new form of currency is a completely different tool from the ones people are currently using for cashless transactions. It complements the two existing forms—cash, in the form of notes and coins, and cashless money, held in bank accounts. All three types are equal in value: one cash ruble equals one cashless ruble, which equals one digital ruble.

To store these digital rubles, you will need to open a special account on the Bank of Russia's platform. It functions similarly to a digital wallet, where every transfer and payment will occur. Russians can access their wallets through banking apps and online banking services, and multiple companies like Sber and T-Bank can manage these wallets simultaneously.

However, the digital ruble cannot be used to open deposit accounts or take out loans. It can only be used for payments, transfers, and to pay state fines like traffic violations. Additionally, individuals can receive wages or state benefits in digital rubles if their employer or a government agency arranges it that way.

Some have compared the digital ruble to cryptocurrency, but it is not the same. The digital ruble is an electronic token issued by the Central Bank, which holds state-level obligations for the payment instrument. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, the digital ruble is not anonymous; all transactions can be tracked by the Central Bank and Rosfinmonitoring, the agency responsible for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

The digital ruble is also pegged to the exchange rate of the regular ruble and will always be worth the same as a cash or cashless unit of Russian currency. This differs from stablecoins, which aim to maintain a stable value tied to a specific asset.

The Central Bank introduced the digital ruble to reduce the reliance on banks' imposed fees and limits. Transactions with digital rubles will be free for individuals, while businesses will pay a small fee. The Bank of Russia will earn revenue from the use of its infrastructure, but banks might face a liquidity shortage due to the outflow of funds from traditional accounts into digital wallets.

Despite these concerns, the digital ruble offers cheaper transfers for individuals and lower acquiring fees for businesses. It also allows for offline transactions, which is essential in a country with frequent internet shutdowns. Furthermore, smart contracts, which are automatically executed agreements, will be a feature of the digital currency, making agreements faster and more efficient.