Due to infrastructural issues, the Russian Ministry of Industry has requested a two-year transition time before mandating payments using the central bank digital currency, or digital ruble.

According to Izvestia, the ministry cautioned that rushing to adopt a proposed legislation that would require major stores to use digital ruble payments by July 2025 might cause severe problems for enterprises.

Retailers must accept digital rubles under the proposed law. The bill requires major federal merchants to comply by July 2025, while smaller enterprises may be delayed based on yearly sales.

The article states that the Ministry of Industry responded to the government's plan by stating that the digital ruble lacks defined operating standards. The ministry stressed the need for more time to finish software, upgrade systems, test, and train workers.

To mitigate these risks, the government is allegedly requesting a two-year transition period for firms to adapt to the new system.

Crypto.news claimed that Russia's central bank governor, Elvira Nabiullina, said the government might deploy the digital ruble in “mass implementation” by July 2025 if pilot projects go well. She said the change would be gradual.

The Bank of Russia chairman said broad acceptance of Russia's CBDC might take five to seven years and would be a “natural process” driven by business and consumer demands and convenience.

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