The invention relates to an electrode for electrolytic processes, particularly to a cathode suitable for hydrogen evolution in an industrial electrolysis process comprising a metal substrate coated with an external catalytic layer containing crystalline ruthenium oxide having a highly ordered rutile-type structure with Ru Ru and Ru O bond length characterized by a Debye-Waller factor lower than a critical value. The catalytic outer layer may contain rare earth oxides, such as praseodymium. The electrode may also comprise an internal catalytic thin layer platinum-based, which gives an enhanced protection against accidental current reversal events.