PANews reported on July 17 that according to Cryptonews, Russian lawmakers voted to pass a digital ruble bill, stipulating that the central bank's digital currency will be launched in September 2026. Previously, the State Duma had passed a law on the "gradual introduction" of the digital ruble, which will then be submitted to the upper house for approval and then to President Putin for signature. However, these two steps are just formalities, and the law will take effect on September 1, 2026, which is the new date after the central bank postponed its original summer 2025 launch plan.