[Russian Ministry of Finance Issues Employee Salaries via Digital Ruble System for the First Time] The Russian Ministry of Finance announced that some internal employees have received their salaries via the digital ruble system for the first time. This payment service has been operating as a voluntary option since October 1. The Ministry of Finance did not disclose the number of participants or the total salary amount in this pilot program but mentioned that this settlement mechanism was previously used in the 2025 federal budget expenditure experiment, during which 16 million digital rubles were issued, equivalent to approximately $19,220. (Source: Cointelegraph)