The National Payment Card System NSPK is preparing to roll out a new digital payment method tied to Mir cards, to be available on smartphones starting in the coming months. Reports from the press indicate that this development is being tracked in NSPK briefs and covered by a range of media outlets, reflecting a broader modernization of card-based payments in the region.
The core concept behind the new approach is to generate a secure QR code directly within the customer’s banking application. At the point of sale, the merchant would simply scan this code to initiate the transaction. This method aims to streamline checkout, reduce physical contact, and align with modern mobile wallet practices that are already popular in many markets around the world.
According to the NSPK bulletin, the payment data that powers this QR based transaction will be tokenized. Tokenization replaces sensitive payment details with a non sensitive placeholder linked to the original data through a secure, encrypted pathway. The objective is to ensure that even if a token is intercepted, it cannot be used to reconstruct the underlying payment information. This security design follows best practices in digital payments, offering a higher level of protection for cardholder data and merchant processing systems.
Historically, NSPK has outlined a phased timeline for expanding Mir Pay functionality across official channels. Beginning March 1, 2023, Russian banks were expected to begin integrating Mir Pay with online and mobile banking services, enabling rapid, web based transactions and mobile wallet experiences. In practice, several banks launched the Mir Pay service as early as December of the previous year, laying the groundwork for the broader adoption of this payment family in everyday commerce and e commerce platforms alike.
Meanwhile, independent commentary has noted activity beyond the Russian market. Reports have stated that preparations for introducing Mir payment services in other regions, including Cuba, are moving forward. This international momentum underscores a wider push to extend Mir as a widely accepted payments solution beyond its home market, potentially opening new corridors for cross border card transactions and remittance flows. Observers emphasize the importance of aligning regulatory, technical, and consumer education efforts to ensure a smooth rollout wherever rollout plans are pursued. [citation attribution]