Page 115 - RusRPTFeb21

9.1.7​ TMT sector news
About half of Russians are ready to use the digital ruble for payments and only 15% of respondents do not trust the digital currency​, according to a survey carried out by the country’s Otkritie Bank, ​TASS​ reports.
The survey indicates that the majority of Russians – 53% – are neutral to the Central Bank’s idea to make the digital ruble a new means of payment. At the same time, 47% of Russians are ready to use it on a par with other ways of paying for goods and services. Most supporters of this position live in the Northwestern District (55%). Some 41% of respondents backed this idea in St. Petersburg and another 42% in the Far East and the Southern Federal District each.
At the same time, 15% of respondents balk at the idea of using the digital ruble. Among the main reasons they name a high risk of fraud, the lack of knowledge of how to use the digital currency and personal distrust, the survey showed.
The residents of St. Petersburg (48%) and the Southern Federal District (45%) are best aware of the digital ruble. In Moscow, 38% of respondents said they knew what the new digital currency was. The lowest level of awareness is seen in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Volga Federal District where
115 ​RUSSIA Country Report​ February 2021 www.intellinews.com