Riley Waggaman \u2013 Off-Guardian Nov 9, 2023<\/strong><\/h1>\nAlexei Moiseev, Russia\u2019s deputy minister of finance, is the world\u2019s most candid space lizard. When he\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0in a September 2021 interview that \u201cthe digital ruble is a replacement for the cash ruble\u201d, skeptics and haters spread hurtful rumors that Moiseev\u2019s refreshing and award-winning honesty had been taken out of context.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s what Mr. Moiseev\u00a0told RIA Novosti<\/a>\u00a0two years later, on October 30, 2023:<\/p>\nEssentially, [the digital ruble] is the real currency of the 22nd or any other century, which at the end of the day must replace cash.<\/p>\n
He also promised that the digital ruble would be more \u201cconvenient\u201d than cash and non-cash transactions. Safety and convenience are the guiding principles of the 21st century, so it\u2019s easy to imagine that the 22nd century will be extremely safe and outrageously convenient<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/digital-ruble1i.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nBut just to be 100% clear: Elvira Nabiullina and her devoted\u00a0blog-admirers<\/a>\u00a0promise that Russians will never be coerced into using digital rubles.<\/p>\nThe gradual transition to CBDCs will be an organic process\u2014a naturally occurring result of Extreme Convenience. Russians will never be prevented from using cash in certain situations, even though this is\u00a0already happening<\/a>\u00a0right now, today, in 2023.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/digital-ruble2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nBut that\u2019s neither here nor there. As the Bank of Russia\u2019s universally loved chairwoman said\u00a0just yesterday<\/a>, Russians will always be allowed to decide how they receive their salaries and pensions\u2014that is her current \u201cposition\u201d and it would be rude to even consider the possibility that this position might change.<\/p>\nJust like it would be uncouth to think that the Bank of Russia\u2019s position on placing restrictions on how digital rubles can be spent (\u201ccoloring\u201d them) would\u00a0ever change<\/a>.<\/p>\nAll Russians understand how convenient and voluntary the 21st and 22nd centuries will be. Just look at what they\u2019re saying\u00a0on the internet forums<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/digital-ruble3.jpg\")
<\/a>Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
—<\/p>\n
Riley Waggaman<\/strong> is your humble Moscow correspondent. He worked for RT, Press TV, Russia Insider, yadda yadda. In his youth, he attended a White House lawn party where he asked Barack Obama if imprisoned whistleblower Bradley Manning (Chelsea was still a boy back then) \u201chad a good Easter.\u201d Good times good times. You can subscribe to his Substack here<\/a>, or follow him on twitter<\/a> or Telegram<\/a>.<\/p>\nSupport Off-Guardian:<\/p>\n
Ko-fi<\/a><\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what Mr. Moiseev\u00a0told RIA Novosti<\/a>\u00a0two years later, on October 30, 2023:<\/p>\n Essentially, [the digital ruble] is the real currency of the 22nd or any other century, which at the end of the day must replace cash.<\/p>\n He also promised that the digital ruble would be more \u201cconvenient\u201d than cash and non-cash transactions. Safety and convenience are the guiding principles of the 21st century, so it\u2019s easy to imagine that the 22nd century will be extremely safe and outrageously convenient<\/p>\n But just to be 100% clear: Elvira Nabiullina and her devoted\u00a0blog-admirers<\/a>\u00a0promise that Russians will never be coerced into using digital rubles.<\/p>\n The gradual transition to CBDCs will be an organic process\u2014a naturally occurring result of Extreme Convenience. Russians will never be prevented from using cash in certain situations, even though this is\u00a0already happening<\/a>\u00a0right now, today, in 2023.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s neither here nor there. As the Bank of Russia\u2019s universally loved chairwoman said\u00a0just yesterday<\/a>, Russians will always be allowed to decide how they receive their salaries and pensions\u2014that is her current \u201cposition\u201d and it would be rude to even consider the possibility that this position might change.<\/p>\n Just like it would be uncouth to think that the Bank of Russia\u2019s position on placing restrictions on how digital rubles can be spent (\u201ccoloring\u201d them) would\u00a0ever change<\/a>.<\/p>\n All Russians understand how convenient and voluntary the 21st and 22nd centuries will be. Just look at what they\u2019re saying\u00a0on the internet forums<\/a>.<\/p>\n Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n —<\/p>\n Riley Waggaman<\/strong> is your humble Moscow correspondent. He worked for RT, Press TV, Russia Insider, yadda yadda. In his youth, he attended a White House lawn party where he asked Barack Obama if imprisoned whistleblower Bradley Manning (Chelsea was still a boy back then) \u201chad a good Easter.\u201d Good times good times. You can subscribe to his Substack here<\/a>, or follow him on twitter<\/a> or Telegram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Support Off-Guardian:<\/p>\n Ko-fi<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a>