ChainCatcher news, according to Tass news agency, Russia postponed the central bank's digital currency pilot originally planned to start on April 1, because some legislation may be delayed until early May. The upcoming pilot will involve real operations and consumers, but on a limited scale, with banks entering into the pilot with selected customers. After the first phase, the Bank of Russia intends to determine how to further expand the digital ruble.
Additionally, a consumer CBDC pilot originally scheduled for 2024 was brought forward as the Russian central bank looks for an alternative to the SWIFT payment system amid Western economic sanctions on Russia.
