Twenty-nine of the 31 analysts and economists polled said the central bank would leave its key rate at 4.25pc, keeping the cost of lending at a record low since July.
Speaking ahead of the Dec. 18 board meeting, Yudaeva reiterated the central bank still saw some room for monetary easing thanks to disinflationary risks.
It said the new digital form of the national currency would require a new payment infrastructure which would in the end make Russia's payment system more robust.
The bank said on Friday it would offer up to 400 billion roubles at the one-year auction, testing demand for long-term rouble liquidity with its benchmark interest rate at a record low of 4.25pc.
Turmoil in neighbouring Belarus and the fallout from the suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny have put pressure on Russian assets in recent weeks.
Zabotkin added that Russia's economy may return to growth in quarter-on-quarter terms in the third quarter of this year.
As part of measures to liberalise Russia's currency regulations, it also proposed lifting a restriction on channelling export revenues to exporters' accounts outside Russia.
The rouble eased slightly to 71.60 against the US dollar after the rate cut, compared with levels of 71.56 seen shortly before the monetary policy decision.
Last month, the central bank slashed its key rate to an all-time low of 4.5%. With inflation now standing at 3.2% and the economy yet to recover from COVID-19.
Economic activity is recovering gradually, supporting disinflationary pressure on the economy.
It has been carrying out forex sales since early March, its first such interventions in five years, to support the rouble, which was hit by the spread of the novel coronavirus and sliding oil prices.