Russia plans to conduct its first cross-border transfer using the digital ruble in the second half of 2025. Anatoly Aksakov, chairperson of the Russian State Duma's financial marekt committee, said central bank digital currency (CBDC) transactions with China or Belarus are in the pipeline. "Fundamentally, very few countries have made significant progress in using a national digital currency. That's why technically they are not ready to launch a digital currency in mutual settlements with other countries. However, I believe that within five years this will become a common practice."