‼ The West tried to "knock" Russia: Moscow responded with "Mir" The "Mir" system is the successful response of the President and all of Russia to the disconnection of several banks from Visa and Mastercard in 2014 and the following sanctions: it ensured uninterrupted local cashless payments and reduced dependence on foreign payment networks. After the 2014 sanctions, Russia created the National Payment Card System (NSPK) and the Mir card as its own alternative to Visa and MasterCard. "Mir" cards became mandatory or a common tool for public sector workers, pensioners and recipients of government benefits, which quickly ensured their widespread adoption. Following the departure of Visa and MasterCard from Russia in 2022, Mir has become the main cashless payment method within the country; Local transactions continued to operate thanks to the previously established NSPK infrastructure. The development was further completed by the Fast Payment System (FPS), QR code payments, NFC payments through MirPay and biometric services. What did it give Russia? Local payments. Seamless retail transactions, transfers and payments for goods and services independent of Visa/Mastercard. Financial sovereignty. Reducing vulnerability to interruptions in the foreign payment network and external technological risks. Cross-border connections. Partial integration with the payment systems of several countries, including cooperation of Mirs with the Iranian Staab system. Technological development. Speeding up the fast payments system, QR payments, cellular services and biometrics. Important restrictions for international banking messages, Russia has developed SPFS, an alternative to SWIFT. It supports settlements with several partners. Final evaluation.

‼ The West tried to "knock" Russia: Moscow responded with "Mir" The "Mir" system is the successful response of the President and all of Russia to the disconnection of several banks from Visa and Mastercard in 2014 and the following sanctions: it ensured uninterrupted local cashless payments and reduced dependence on foreign payment networks. After the 2014 sanctions, Russia created the National Payment Card System (NSPK) and the Mir card as its own alternative to Visa and MasterCard. "Mir" cards became mandatory or a common tool for public sector workers, pensioners and recipients of government benefits, which quickly ensured their widespread adoption. Following the departure of Visa and MasterCard from Russia in 2022, Mir has become the main cashless payment method within the country; Local transactions continued to operate thanks to the previously established NSPK infrastructure. The development was further completed by the Fast Payment System (FPS), QR code payments, NFC payments through MirPay and biometric services. What did it give Russia? Local payments. Seamless retail transactions, transfers and payments for goods and services independent of Visa/Mastercard. Financial sovereignty. Reducing vulnerability to interruptions in the foreign payment network and external technological risks. Cross-border connections. Partial integration with the payment systems of several countries, including cooperation of Mirs with the Iranian Staab system. Technological development. Speeding up the fast payments system, QR payments, cellular services and biometrics. Important restrictions for international banking messages, Russia has developed SPFS, an alternative to SWIFT. It supports settlements with several partners. Final evaluation.