The Bank of Russia is planning to launch a prototype of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) and start piloting as early as late 2021, the monetary regulator’s Deputy Chairman, Alexey Zabotkin, revealed.
While speaking at an online event hosted by the Russian Economic School, Zabotkin said that the central bank is planning to complete the prototype development by the year-end or next year, local news agency Prime reported.
The prototype will allow people to test the digital version of the ruble, but it will not allow real-time transactions.
“Next year, based on this prototype, we will consider further developments and thereafter launch testing rounds,” Zabotkin said (translated from Russian).
The Russian central bank first announced its plans to launch a digital currency in mid-October last year. The official consultation paper then described the digital ruble as an “additional form of money alongside cash and non-cash.”
Banks Warned against the CBDC Model
However, the project faced a setback as in January 2021 the association of Russian banks and Fintech companies pointed out the drawbacks of the model of such Blockchain -based fiat and raised concerns over its use by the fraudsters.
Still, 83 percent of the respondents on the consultation paper supported the Russian central bank’s initiative to launch a CBDC, according to Coindesk.
Olga Skorobogatova, the Bank of Russia's first Deputy Governor, confirmed last month that the monetary regulator will proceed with its proposed model to develop a concept of the digital ruble.
Meanwhile, the lenders of the country are gearing up to launch digital currencies. Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-owned bank, is seeking approval to launch a blockchain-based platform that will allow the bank to launch its own digital currency.
