Across Moscow’s rapid transit system, a pilot is underway to test digital ruble payments for public transport. The initiative was outlined by Maxim Liksutov, head of the Department of Transport and Development of Moscow Road Transport Infrastructure, as reported by the Moscow Ministry of Transport in its press briefing. The goal is to explore whether digital rubles can streamline fare collection and bring a new level of convenience to riders navigating the city’s metro network.
According to Liksutov, the initial phase will focus on selling Troika souvenir cards and Wallet-based tickets that carry a digital ruble balance. This controlled rollout is designed to observe how digital currency behaves in real-world transit transactions and to assess any operational adjustments needed before expanding to additional payment options within Moscow’s transit ecosystem.
Liksutov emphasized that participation in the pilot would be limited to a predefined focus group of employees in the early stage. After evaluating the results, the study may consider extending digital ruble payments to other fare products and services within the city’s transportation system. The pilot aims to determine the practicality, reliability, and user experience of paying for trips with digital rubles in a municipal context.
Officials noted that the project is a collaborative effort involving the Central Bank of Russia and VTB Bank, with the administrative backing of the city’s leadership. The collaboration signals a broader interest from both financial authorities and public institutions in testing digital currencies for public services and everyday payments.
Earlier statements from Vadim Kulik, Vice Chairman of the Board of VTB Bank, indicated that VTB had already launched transactions in digital rubles through its VTB Online mobile app as part of an experimental trial. This milestone highlighted the bank’s role in advancing digital currency use cases within the Russian financial system and supporting pilot programs in public-facing services.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Russia has discussed ongoing developments related to the potential for paying housing and communal services bills using digital rubles. This broader exploration reflects an evolving landscape where digital currency tools may extend beyond transit and into everyday municipal payments, subject to regulatory and technical readiness. The Moscow pilot thus sits within a larger framework of governmental and financial sector experimentation aimed at modernizing how residents conduct routine transactions and manage city services.