Russian digital ruble accounts top 220,000 in first month, 4 times central bank forecast

More than 220,000 Russian digital ruble accounts were opened in the first month after launch, four times the central bank’s forecast, Reuters reported. Reuters said Russia had previously accelerated development of the digital ruble after sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine left it isolated from parts of the global financial system and made payments with key trading partners including China and India more complicated. The outlet added the digital ruble is becoming an early test of whether a central bank digital currency can move beyond pilot programs and achieve broad real-world adoption.