Starting from September 1 this year, users of Apple smartphones will not be able to open digital ruble wallets through banking applications. This is because the bank was unable to upload the software for the digital ruble update to the app store because it contained direct references to communications with the Russian state financial system. about this Write Vedomosti referred to his own sources of knowledge.
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Let us remind you that from September 1, the digital ruble will officially circulate in the Russian Federation, which is the third national currency after cash and non-cash funds. Russians will have the opportunity to apply to open a digital ruble account through a bank. This opportunity will be provided by more than two dozen financial organizations with important positions in the payment services market recognized by the central bank. These banks include Sberbank, VTB, Alfa Bank, etc.
There is a comment on the website of the Central Bank of Russia about the possibility of using the digital ruble for owners of iOS devices. It said users of this operating system will be able to use digital rubles, “If their mobile device has such an operating system and has a current version of the bank’s mobile application that supports digital ruble functionality”. The central bank advises users to check with their bank about the functionality of the mobile app.
VTB, RSHB and Rossiya banks said customers will be able to use the digital ruble through a mobile application for Android devices. However, there is no mention of iOS-powered smartphones. The RSHB announced this week that from September 1, bank customers will be able to spend digital rubles in an Android app. VTB customers will have the option to open a digital ruble account in VTB Online Application version 20.16 or higher. Rossiya Bank will offer similar opportunities in the ABR Direct app for Android.
Problems with the iOS banking app began the moment it was reviewed before being uploaded to the App Store. The digital ruble is based on the Russian cryptocurrency standard, which itself is marked by: “This is the national financial infrastructure of the Russian Federation”A person familiar with the matter said that instead of the standard acquisition of the SDK. In addition to this, the application must access the infrastructure of the central bank platform, namely the Bank of Russia’s separate domain and API, which is not available in any legitimate game or classic application if the bank is pretending to be them. If previous banking apps were verified and available for download in app stores for a while, this will become more difficult with the update of the digital ruble.
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During Apple’s inspection, experts discovered software code related to the central bank and realized that the product may belong to one of the Russian banks. Apple immediately refused to release the app on its platform as many credit institutions in the country were under sanctions. The fact is that Apple does not check the security of the code, but its source, ownership and other characteristics. Based on this check, the application’s affiliation with a specific bank will be revealed and blocked.
One of the publication’s interlocutors stated that so far there is no certified CIPF that both meets the central bank’s requirements and can be integrated into the adaptive mobile version of the iOS app. Technically speaking, it is impossible to implement the work of digital ruble on this platform without such a solution. Therefore, the ability to use digital rubles is not yet available on iOS devices. He added that iPhone users will gain access in due course as the appropriate certified products become available and are approved by regulators. Russian banks and market participants are looking for solutions that can extend this functionality to all mobile platforms. It is worth noting that the issue of updating bank apps to ensure support for the digital ruble will certainly not be resolved by September 1, but banks may find a way out of this situation in the future.
Roman Prokhorov, president of the Financial Innovation Association, added that updating the bank office app could be a solution for iPhone users. This solution is suitable for traditional banking applications and can therefore be tested for digital ruble applications. In addition, some organizations have set up the function to open digital wallets and spend digital rubles on mobile banking web versions and desktop computers.
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