Some Russian banks have already begun to test peer-to-peer payments with the digital ruble, Russian media TASS has reported.
Currently, consumer-to-consumer payments (C2C payments) are being tested, after which technical testing of C2B, B2C and B2B payments will begin.
Maxim Khrustalev, advisor to the deputy chairman of Promsvyazbank (PSB), said:
"Currently, the participants of the pilot project are testing C2C payments, after which technical testing of C2B, B2C and B2B payments will begin. Based on the results of the pilot test, the Bank of Russia will start introducing the digital ruble platform in commercial operation."
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Representatives of Tinkoff Bank and VTB Bank have also announced they are preparing to test a new form of Russian currency.
The Bank of Russia plans a phased development of the digital ruble platform: with a gradual expansion of the range of connected participants and types of transactions available. Based on the results of testing the platform prototype, a roadmap for the introduction of the digital ruble will be formed. In December last year, Olga Skorobogatova, First Deputy Chairman of the Bank of Russia, announced the prototype of the digital ruble platform was ready and that pilot operations of the first stage would start in January with the participation of 12 banks.