Vladimir
Putin, the President of Russia, has ratified a law that introduces digital
rubble, the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), according to an
official government document published today (Monday). The approval
comes after Russia’s upper and lower chambers passed a bill on the digital currency earlier this
month.
Putin
approved the introduction of digital rubble through amendments to Russia’s
Civil Code, thereby validating
the CBDC as a legitimate form of national currency. The amendments are expected to
enter into force on August 1, 2023. However, certain provisions, including
those related to bankruptcy and inheritance, will only kick in in August next
year.
Earlier,
Russia indefinitely postponed a pilot testing of the digital
rubble fixed for April. The pilot was planned to go live in partnership with 13 local banks. With presidential approval now granted, the pilot, which will test the application
of the digital currency in real-life transactions, is expected to go live next month.
According
to the state-owned news agency, TASS, under the new law, a transaction in digital rubble is to be done through a special information system manned by the Bank of Russia. The apex monetary authority will also accept the CBDConly as…