July 11 (Reuters) - Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has passed a law introducing a "digital rouble", Russian news agencies said on Tuesday.
Russia, like many countries, has been developing digital money over the last couple of years to modernise its financial system, speed up payments and head off the threat of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin gaining influence.
A senior lawmaker said last year that Russia planned to use the currency in mutual settlements with China as it seeks to reduce Washington's global financial dominance. (Reporting by Reuters)
