- Belarus will fully launch the digital ruble by late 2026, with public adoption in 2027.
- CBDC development focuses on security, infrastructure, and regulations.
- Belarus collaborates with Russia on cross-border CBDC integration.
The launch of the nationwide rollout is slated for the second half of 2026, moving Belarus closer to the full deployment of its central bank digital currency (CBDC). The effort is part of a broader joint Russian initiative to ensure the integration of digital currencies across borders.
Digital Ruble a Top Priority for Belarus
The digital ruble is at the top of the priority list for the monetary authority, and it remains a priority, National Bank of Belarus Chairman Roman Golovchenko told the state-run news agency Belta. “There is the digital ruble among our priorities.” Its creation is underway. And first of all, it means that we are dealing with the security of funds. The coloring of funds is what I refer to as an issue. According to Golovchenko, the state needs to be able to track how money in the digital world circulates throughout the entire chain.
The National Bank, Golovichencko, has three core objectives that it is targeting to achieve before the roll-out of the CBDC. These include establishing the overall structure of the digital ruble platform, developing domestic software for its operation, and based on a draft of the regulatory framework and rules governing the use and governance of such platform.
Belarus and Russia Collaborate on CBDCs
According to the central bank’s implementation timeline, the digital ruble will first be used by businesses in 2026. In 2027, government institutions and the general public are expected to follow. The bank will carry out the phased rollout to gradually switch to digital currency from other sectors in the economy.
Belarus is also working very closely with Russia regarding CBDC, in addition to the domestic efforts. Both nations are cooperating, said Golovchenko, adding that ruble digital currency development is also taking place in Moscow.
Unwilling to miss a trend of modernising the region’s financial systems through digital innovation, Belarus’s strategy on its future CBDC also reflects a growing trend in which countries tend to seek security, transparency, and interoperability in their CBDC.
