The pilot for Russia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot should have been launched on April 1, but it was delayed at practically the last moment due to the slow pace of the necessary associated legislation passing through parliament.
However, with the launch of the pilot still possible in May and the general roll-out of the digital ruble scheduled for 2024, the Russian project remains one of the most important CBDC developments to watch — especially given its possible role in cross-border payments between BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the intent to include it in the massive state-controlled pension system.