Russia's Ministry of Finance said on Friday that some employees had received wages in digital rubles for the first time. The ministry's press release said voluntary wage payments in the central bank's digital currency began for Russia's citizens on Thursday, Oct. 1. The ministry did not disclose the number of recipients or the total payroll amount. The ministry said about 16 million digital rubles ($192,245) had been disbursed during federal budget spending trials in 2025.