Analyst: Digital Ruble Needs Bonuses and Cashback to Drive Adoption

• —Zernov: without bonuses and cashback, Russians are unlikely to pick the digital ruble over cards or SBP
• —China's example: digital yuan giveaways and discount coupons paired with wider CBDC acceptance
• —Offline payments called a plus, but not the main driver of mass adoption
• —Bank of Russia plans cash withdrawals of digital rubles in 2027; retail operations remain free