Digital Ruble Accounts Rise by Nearly 87,000 in 10 Days, Bank of Russia Says

Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina said the digital ruble’s rollout had progressed smoothly, with the number of accounts increasing by nearly 87,000 over a 10-day period.

Users Show Interest in New Payment Instrument

Nabiullina attributed the increase largely to the novelty of the digital ruble and users’ interest in testing how the new form of money works.

The digital ruble is Russia’s central bank digital currency, issued and overseen by the Bank of Russia. Unlike cryptocurrencies, it is a centralized digital payment instrument backed by the country’s central bank.

Account Growth Reaches Record Level

The reported increase brought digital ruble accounts to a record level, according to the Bank of Russia governor. The figures indicate growing public engagement as authorities continue introducing the currency to users.

Nabiullina’s comments suggest that early adoption has been driven primarily by curiosity and the opportunity to experiment with the digital ruble’s payment features.