Russia's central bank plans to launch its digital ruble on September 1, 2026. The launch will require major banks and large retailers to support digital ruble payments in a staged manner. The European Union has imposed sanctions that ban transactions involving the digital ruble and restrict EU support for its development, citing Russia's war in Ukraine and concerns about sanctions evasion. In addition, the EU has proposed broader limits on foreign crypto services that could facilitate Russian sanctions evasion. Russia has conducted more than a year of pilot tests of digital ruble smart contracts, including trials of conditional public spending in the Tatarstan region. Banks and retailers with annual revenue exceeding 120 million rubles must accept digital ruble payments beginning September 1, 2026. Banks with universal licences and retailers with revenue over 30 million rubles must comply starting September 1, 2027. Other banks and smaller retailers will be required to adopt the system from September 1, 2028. Very small merchants are exempt from the requirement. The digital ruble will circulate alongside cash and non‑cash rubles rather than replace them. Transactions using the digital ruble will be fee‑free for users. Individuals can open digital wallets through banking applications connected to the central bank's platform. Governor Elvira Nabiullina said on July 2 that preparations are complete and that 'everyone is ready' for the launch, according to a report by RIA Novosti. Analysts say Russia may explore using Bitcoin or other proof‑of‑work assets to bypass sanctions, but limited energy infrastructure and restrictions on foreign technology could limit that strategy. U.S. lawmakers are advancing legislation that would temporarily block the Federal Reserve from creating a central bank digital currency through 2030, citing privacy and state control concerns. The proposal, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, would prohibit the Fed from issuing a CBDC or similar assets. The September 1 rollout will test whether banks, merchants and consumers adopt the digital ruble and whether it can achieve demand without replacing existing cash forms. The outcome will remain subject to sanctions pressure and ongoing policy debates in the United States and Europe.