"Three banks have fully launched Bluetooth payment for iPhone"
Customers of the three banks can already pay for purchases from an iPhone via Bluetooth using the Wave technology, Dmitry Dubynin, CEO of the National Payment Card System (NSPK), told Izvestia at SPIEF 2026. More than five credit institutions are implementing the service based on the Mir system. He also announced that the universal QR code will be launched on September 1. It will be possible to accept digital rubles through it — the infrastructure for this is already fully ready. By the end of the year, the NSPK will also launch a proof-of-age project on biometrics in retail. The same scenario is discussed during delivery. How it will be possible to pay for purchases using QR without the Internet and what other projects are being worked out — in Dmitry Dubynin's exclusive interview with Izvestia.
"It will be possible to pay for the purchase contactless in any case"
— I wanted to start with a question about the Wave technology for remote Bluetooth payment for the iPhone. How is the implementation of this technology going and how many banks have already fully launched this solution?
— The introduction of the Wave technology is progressing. Three banks have already fully launched remote Bluetooth payment for the iPhone. Two of them are based on the Fast Payment System, and one more is based on the Mir payment system.
After we added the ability to use the Wave in the Mir payment system, more than five more banks started implementing it. They found this particular technology application scenario interesting.
The process itself is proceeding in stages. Banks need to refine remote service so that the technology works in their applications, and of course, re-equip the acquiring network. They also need to update terminals and create user-friendly client scenarios. This work continues, but there is movement. Customers of banks that have implemented the Wave can already use the technology when paying.
— Can we say that this completely removes the problem of contactless payment for iPhone users?
— The payment scenario itself is very similar to the one that everyone is used to. Therefore, the technology really closes the issue of contactless payments using a mobile device.
When full-scale implementation begins, banks will gradually re-equip their networks, and more and more retail and service enterprises will be able to accept payments via Bluetooth. Then, I think, such a question will no longer arise. It doesn't matter which device a person has — iPhone or Android. You will be able to pay for the purchase contactless in any case.
— When do you think the technology will become really widespread and will be accepted in many places?
— It all depends on the speed of implementation. It is important here how quickly banks will re-equip their networks and organize payment acceptance in retail and service enterprises.
We help both banks and manufacturers of domestic software for terminals. We actively interact with them and suggest what needs to be done so that their banking clients can bring such a solution to their networks faster and more painlessly.
"The infrastructure for receiving digital rubles is already fully ready"
— Another important topic is that the universal QR code will start working on September 1. Together with it, it is planned to introduce the digital ruble into mass circulation. What will fundamentally change for the user?
— Users will finally feel comfortable. Many were confused and did not understand how to pay at the checkout.: what bank do they have, whether they will be able to pay for the purchase using this QR code or not. This confusion will persist until all financial institutions fully switch to the new solution.
First of all, this is a matter of convenience for people who use payment services. We chose a scenario with a payment page. In fact, it is a menu of different payment methods. All the tools familiar to humans will be there: bank pay services, installment payment services, a fast payment system, and a digital ruble. This is the main thing that will change from September 1, when the changes in legislation will come into force.
— Which banks will join the service starting from September 1?
— There are two scenarios. The first is when the bank, in fact, does not offer anything except the security deposit, that is, it does not have its own payment methods using a QR code. In this case, it is enough to migrate it to a universal QR. Then the entire trading network of the bank, if it has not previously connected to this solution, will switch to the new technology. Here, the main actions take place on our side, and the bank only needs to orient us correctly.
If the bank offers its own pay service, it will need improvements to make this service fully available on the universal QR payment page. But all the banks that come to us with such questions receive support. We help them seamlessly transition to the new technology.
— If the bank is ready to accept digital rubles, will this feature be enabled immediately?
— Yes, absolutely right. On our side, the infrastructure for accepting digital rubles is already fully ready. As soon as it is decided that the digital ruble begins to circulate, then it will be possible to use it to settle accounts. We will enable this feature immediately.
— Are there any banks that did not have time to prepare for the scheduled dates and plan to request a postponement? Are you aware of such plans?
— The federal law is the same for everyone and is binding. It's hard for me to say if someone will make it or not. But according to our interaction with banks, there is no information about plans to request a postponement.
All the banks that should be connected are now in varying degrees of readiness. The introduction of universal QR is going according to plan — we are moving towards September 1.
"We want to give people the opportunity to pay with a personal QR code offline"
— Do you see the risks that problems may arise when starting the system due to Internet outages?
— These projects are not related to the Internet blackout situation. The very idea of QR payments in any case involves online. The user's device must either generate a QR code or scan it.
Therefore, it is important to understand that QR payments are strongly tied to Internet access. At the same time, the Fast Payment System has been on the white lists of the Ministry of Finance from the very beginning. If the bank uses the SBP, then the sales and service company should have no problems. For example, if the cash register or terminal equipment is connected to the wired Internet, everything should work.
At the same time, we have been using offline technologies for a long time. For example, the Mir payment system, from the customer's point of view, can work without the Internet. When a person pays with "plastic" or a tokenized card — through Mir Pay or "Wave" — it is initially assumed that the user may not have a network connection.
We are also looking towards offline QR, but specifically a personal QR code. This is the code that forms the client's banking application and which can be shown at the checkout. We plan to implement this technology, we want to give people the opportunity to pay with a personal QR code offline.
— Did I understand correctly that even with the Wave technology, payment will also take place without the Internet — is it enough to attach an iPhone to the terminal?
— Yes, if Volna operates on the basis of the Mir payment system, that is, it is linked to the client's card, in fact, to a tokenized card. Yes, the payment will be processed.
"We are discussing the introduction of age verification by biometrics upon delivery"
— You started age verification tests using biometrics at the end of last year. It was planned to scale the technology this year. What are the results so far?
— This is a very interesting project. My partners Gazprombank and Magnit are currently discussing the details of the pilot, which we plan to launch by the end of the year. We are talking about payment using biometrics and age verification in retail.
We are still discussing the details of the project. At the first stage, there will probably be a limited number of stores where such equipment will be installed. There, the buyer will be able to pay for the purchase using biometrics. If the product belongs to the 18+ category, the age can also be confirmed "by face".
This is a big step for retail. Especially for companies that need to count customers quickly on the flow, accept payments, and avoid creating queues. Such technologies will relieve cashiers and self-service terminals.
— It is very user-friendly. Various options were discussed, including age verification upon delivery. Aren't you working on such scenarios yet?
— We are also interested in this direction. We are discussing the implementation of age verification by biometrics upon delivery with a number of partners. This is really promising for e-commerce. Therefore, we are also looking in this direction.
— Are these the main scenarios for now, or are you working on other biometrics functions? For example, you had projects with the subway.
— The metro is an established project. But now something else is much more interesting.: We believe that biometrics should be developed as a possible form factor for almost any payments and actions, if it is convenient for a person.
For example, we are considering the development of our biometric services platform in connection with the new project "My Map of the World". We recently announced it. The project solves an important task — the creation of a single beneficiary identifier. Both regional and federal benefits should be linked to it.
This way, a person will be able to receive a benefit, discount or other offer right at the checkout when paying. This way, citizens will be able to save money and use support measures immediately upon payment. I think it will be as convenient as possible.
Biometrics can become one of the tools here. For example, it can be linked to a card that serves as a person's ID. It will certainly be possible to use other form factors: a Wave, a regular card, and perhaps messengers.
We launched another project just recently — this is the passage of biometrics to business halls. This is our joint project with the Center for Biometric Technologies. We have connected more than 60 business halls across the country — at airports and railway stations. They account for more than 95% of all visits. Now we are gradually launching this project, testing and seeing how much it will be in demand.
— Is biometrics technology developing at all? Are people not afraid to use it?
— I think many people have certain prejudices about any new technology. When launching any new technology, you need to immediately explain what its pros and cons are, what is to be feared and what is not.
We are actively engaged in this. And I must say, the services are already being used. But such changes do not happen quickly. Remember how plastic cards were introduced. It wasn't easy either. The same thing happens with biometrics.
"In the B2B segment, SBP transfers increased 46-fold"
— It was actively discussed that from July 1, banks are required to indicate the INN of an individual when making transfers under the SBP. How do you think this will help?
— It definitely helps in the fight against fraud. As a payment system, we have anti-fraud systems with our own risk indicators. Specifying the INN allows you to inform the banks in time if the operation has suspicious signs. This way, the bank can deal with such an operation faster, verify it and help save the client's money. Therefore, I rate this decision positively.
At the same time, nothing changes for the user, because the INN is exchanged by banks. They already have this data. In fact, we are talking about a technological refinement that does not affect the client in any way.
— Has there been any discussion of further expansion of the use of INN? Where else can it be useful?
— INN is a universal identifier of a person. It can't just be substituted, changed, or forged. Therefore, it can be used in a wide variety of fields. In fact, this is a matter of digital identification.
— What are your future plans for the expansion and development of payment services in the country? Are there any specific tasks for the next one or two years?
— The main thing for us is to maintain the stability, continuity and security of our services.
We also see that the landscape of the payment market is changing. The increase in card transactions is decreasing one way or another. Users switch to other payment instruments.
— Do you mean QR codes and biometrics?
— Yes, of course. These are new form factors for payment confirmation and new technologies. It is becoming more and more interesting for people to use different payment methods. Such flows are completely normal — it is the choice of citizens.
The most important thing is to understand which solutions will be most convenient for people. We are open in this regard. From the point of view of our tactics and strategy for the development of the Fast Payment System and the Mir payment system, all these tools complement each other.
— Can you tell us about the new scenarios in the SBP that you have in mind?
— For a long time, we have been focused on improving customer paths in the already familiar operations: transfers by SBP, payment for goods and services. But we ended 2025 with a very interesting indicator: in the B2B segment, transfers via SBP increased 46 times.
By the end of the year, about 120 billion rubles passed through such channels, which is about 1 million transactions. The script is definitely in demand. That's why we came up with a new service — B2B Push. It allows you to start the payment chain from the other side.
Now, to request payment, the receiving organization needs to create a link or QR code with its details and send them to the paying organization. We made a different scenario. The paying organization itself finds the company to transfer the funds to using simple and understandable banking details, selects a convenient bank and performs the operation.
This significantly reduces the payment time. I think such a service will be especially convenient for industries where it is important to make a payment as quickly as possible, for example, logistics, transport and tourism.
We have already discussed the service with the banks. Currently, seven banks want to test this technology, and the pilot will begin in August. We must make sure that the technology "matures", then it can be launched into the free market.
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