Russia to Launch Unified Payment Card Registry in 2026 to Combat Dropper Fraud Schemes

From September 1, 2026, Russia will activate a unified national registry that records every payment card issued by Russian banks, irrespective of the underlying payment system.

The new database will capture all cards, including previously issued Visa and Mastercard products and even expired cards that banks continue to maintain. This comprehensive approach prevents individuals from concealing card holdings behind foreign payment-system logos.

The primary objective is to strengthen the fight against dropper schemes, in which criminals use multiple third-party cards and accounts to move and cash out stolen funds. Under the current fragmented system, each bank only sees the cards it has issued itself.

With the single registry, banks will gain a complete view of how many cards are linked to any one person across all institutions. This visibility is expected to make it significantly harder for fraud networks to operate large numbers of mule accounts undetected.

No mass cancellation of cards will take place on the launch date. The restriction limiting any individual to a maximum of 20 cards across all banks will only begin on September 1, 2027. Cards already exceeding this number will continue to function; the limit will apply solely to the issuance of new cards.

During the initial year, the system will focus on accurate counting and preparation. Holders of large card collections will have time to evaluate which cards they actually use and which can be closed before the new issuance rules come into force.