Visa has processed over 25 billion transactions in stablecoins and CBDC pilots over the last year, and the volume of cashless payments worldwide has exceeded 1.5 quadrillion dollars. Neobanks already serve over 1.3 billion users, taking corporate clients away from traditional banks.

Global fintech in 2026 has entered a phase of rapid standardization: central banks are scaling digital currency pilots (CBDC), major networks like Visa and Mastercard are testing direct payment routing via blockchain, and neobanks are turning profitable. This directly affects how businesses will accept payments, manage liquidity, and handle cross-border settlements. For companies in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, opportunities are opening up right now: global infrastructure solutions are changing, and it is possible to immediately build new generation systems, bypassing outdated technologies. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) are already receiving requests for payment platform architecture considering future CBDCs and tokenized assets.

CBDC and digital payments: transition from pilots to scaling

Over the past 12 months, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have transformed from a concept into a real payment tool. According to the Bank for International Settlements, by 2026, more than 130 countries and currency unions are studying or testing CBDCs, and at least 21 jurisdictions are at the pilot or limited launch stage. The European Central Bank has completed the research phase of the digital euro and is preparing the legislative and technical framework, targeting a potential launch in the coming years. In China, the e-CNY pilot has covered dozens of cities and millions of users, but the global trend is different: integrating digital currencies into international B2B payments and cross-border settlements.

Major payment networks have accelerated integration with blockchain infrastructure. Visa has stated in public reports that it has tested payment scenarios in stablecoins based on Ethereum and Solana and launched several pilots where operations between partner banks partially occur in tokenized form. Mastercard has expanded its Multi-Token Network, where payments using tokenized deposits, stablecoins, and potential CBDCs are being tested. The key shift in 2025-2026: the transition from demonstration pilots to projects with real volumes and KPIs to reduce the cost of cross-border payments by at least 20-30 percent.

For banks and fintech companies, this means the need to rebuild infrastructure right now. Scoring models, AML/KYC processes, transaction monitoring, and liquidity management will all need to be adapted to scenarios where a significant portion of settlements are conducted in tokenized currencies. New standards are being introduced, such as ISO 20022 for payment messaging, and parallel to this, API gateways to blockchain networks and tokenization infrastructure. Such integrations are already leading to increased investment budgets for IT architecture: in developed countries, banks spent 5 to 12 percent of their total IT budget on transforming payment systems in 2025, and the forecast for 2026 shows further growth.

Against this backdrop, companies that can quickly design and deploy a flexible payment architecture win: microservices, modular cores, gateways to blockchain and classic payment schemes. Such integrators as Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) are already helping businesses build payment platforms with support for tokenized assets, Web3 wallets, and traditional banking rails simultaneously, to be ready for the mass rollout of CBDCs in the commercial sector.

Neobanks and BaaS: how the fintech competitive landscape is changing

Neobanking is no longer a niche story for early adopters. According to consulting agencies, by 2026, the number of neobank users worldwide will exceed 1.3 billion, and the total valuation of public and major private players has significantly increased after the challenging period of 2022-2023. The United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, and several Asian markets show that neobanks are beginning to compete not only for retail but also for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as for technology companies that need flexible payment solutions and instant onboarding.

The key trend of the past two years is the transition of BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service) to a phase of regulatory 'cleansing'. Regulators have tightened requirements for who can provide banking infrastructure as a service. Several notable players in developed markets have had to reduce customer activity, strengthen compliance, or change partnership models. As a result, the market is moving from chaotic growth to more sustainable models, where BaaS providers have established risk management processes, continuous transaction monitoring, and KYC for embedded clients.

For businesses, this creates both risks and opportunities. On the one hand, the cost of compliance is growing: expenses for AML, KYC, and sanctions monitoring at the global level for major fintech players already reach 10-20 percent of operating expenses. On the other hand, a reliable BaaS partner allows you to launch financial products in months, not years. This is especially important for marketplaces, logistics platforms, SaaS services that want to integrate payments, loans, or virtual accounts directly into their product.

In markets where there are few strong neobanks, there is growing interest in white-label solutions. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) support clients in designing platforms that can connect to foreign BaaS providers when necessary, but keep critical data locally, complying with local regulators' requirements. This allows businesses in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to launch 'quasi-neobank' services under their own brand faster, without building banking infrastructure from scratch.

Cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and blockchain in B2B payments

After the volatile events of 2022, the crypto market gradually entered a more mature phase in 2024-2026. The interest of institutional players has shifted from speculating on volatile assets to stablecoins, tokenization of real assets, and using blockchain to optimize payment infrastructure. Turnover for major stablecoins USDT and USDC is consistently measured in hundreds of billions of dollars per month. According to analytical platforms, more than 50 percent of transactions in major stablecoins are B2B operations, decentralized exchanges, and infrastructure payments.

Blockchain is especially actively used for cross-border payments of small and medium-sized businesses. Where traditional bank transfers take several days and cost 3-7 percent of the amount, stablecoin-based providers offer fees of less than 1 percent and crediting times from several minutes to an hour. Companies are building hybrid schemes: entry and exit in fiat are carried out through licensed payment organizations and banks, and the movement of funds between them is already via blockchain. Such schemes allow companies to reduce payment expenses by tens of thousands of dollars per year, even for medium-sized companies with a turnover of $2-5 million.

The infrastructure around blockchain payments is also maturing. Corporate wallets with multi-factor authentication, transaction signing policies, integration with ERP and accounting systems, and automatic generation of reports for tax authorities are emerging. For payment providers, transaction monitoring and control over the sources of funds are critical: blockchain analytics tools are used to track risky addresses and automatically block suspicious payments. The cost of implementing such systems can start from tens of thousands of dollars, but in the long run, it reduces regulatory risks and simplifies auditing.

Developing and integrating such solutions requires strong technological partners. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) are already designing services where blockchain is used as one of the transport layers in the payment architecture: businesses do not need to know the details of working with smart contracts, they simply receive an API for creating wallets, making payments, and reconciling transactions, and all the complexity of blockchain integration is hidden within the platform.

Payment infrastructure 2026: API, ISO 20022, and real-time

In parallel with the development of crypto and CBDC directions, in 2026, there is a deep modernization of classical payment infrastructure. Almost all major payment systems are switching to the ISO 20022 standard for financial message exchange, which supports richer data on payment purpose, counterparty, and additional transaction attributes. This allows banks and fintech companies to build more accurate compliance and risk management systems, and businesses to improve payment reconciliation automation and accounting integration.

The second key trend is the spread of real-time payments. Several countries already have national instant transfer systems where funds are credited in seconds in 24/7 mode, not just on banking days. This changes user and corporate client expectations: if the 'norm' used to be a delay of 1-3 business days for cross-bank transfers, now many expect instant crediting and transparent payment status tracking. For e-commerce, marketplaces, freelance platforms, and logistics companies, this creates a competitive advantage: fast payment to partners and suppliers becomes the standard.

The third element is API-oriented architecture. Banks, fintech companies, and payment providers are opening APIs for account management, payments, acquiring, currency operations. This allows third-party developers and businesses to embed financial functionality directly into their products. Every year, the share of payments initiated not through internet banking or a cash terminal, but through API within SaaS systems, mobile applications, and corporate platforms, is growing.

For regional companies, this means the need to update their own infrastructure: switch internal billing systems to work with API gateways, learn to process events in real-time, and implement monitoring based on streaming data processing. Integrators like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help companies design payment architectures that support multiple channels: classic bank transfers, instant payments, cards, alternative methods, and potential CBDCs. This protects businesses from technological 'lock-in' and gives flexibility in choosing payment service providers.

Strategies for business: how to prepare for the new wave of fintech

For companies accepting payments online or offline, 2026 is a time of strategic choice. Ignoring the development of CBDCs, blockchain, and neobanking is no longer possible: even if a business currently works only with classic bank transfers and cards, within the next 3-5 years, its counterparties and customers will start demanding more flexible and faster payment methods. This means the need to review the payment strategy: from the set of providers to the billing and accounting architecture.

The first step is to audit the current payment infrastructure. It is necessary to understand which payment channels are currently used, what fees the company pays, how long it takes to credit funds, and what risks are associated with individual providers. In many cases, even at this stage, areas for saving 10-30 percent on fees and operational costs are discovered: for example, by switching to more favorable acquiring tariffs, optimizing currency settlements, or implementing direct integrations via API instead of manual payment processing.

The second step is to form a 'roadmap' for 2-3 years. This includes projects for transitioning to API payments, integrating with instant transfer systems, preparing for stablecoin or CBDC support, and modernizing AML/KYC processes. It is important to allocate resources in advance for architectural changes: moving to microservices, isolating the payment core, implementing a centralized data and event bus. For example, companies in developed markets allocate 6 to 18 months for a comprehensive payment transformation project, with a budget of several hundred thousand to millions of dollars depending on the scale.

The third step is to choose a technology partner. Assembling a strong in-house team that simultaneously deals with payment protocols, regulation, blockchain, security, and high-load system architecture is not easy for everyone. Therefore, many companies outsource payment infrastructure design and development to external players. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) act as architectural partners: helping to determine the target model, select the technology stack, design integrations with banks, providers, and blockchain networks, and then support launch and operation. This reduces the risk of errors that can later cost millions due to downtime, data leaks, or regulatory penalties.

Что это значит для Казахстана

For Kazakhstan and Central Asia, what is happening in global fintech has direct consequences. National regulators are already building strategies for 'digital tenge' and payment infrastructure modernization, guided by international standards. Kazakhstan has significantly increased the share of cashless payments in recent years: according to national statistics, the volume of card and e-wallet transactions is growing at double-digit rates annually, and e-commerce and marketplaces are becoming the main drivers. Against this backdrop, it is important for businesses to prepare in advance for the arrival of new tools - from stablecoins and tokenization to integration with international instant payment systems.

The region has historically been actively involved in cross-border trade: raw material exports, logistics, IT outsourcing, cross-border e-commerce. Any reduction in payment costs by 1-2 percentage points gives companies additional margin and makes them more competitive in the global market. The use of blockchain and stablecoins in combination with traditional rails already allows reducing operational costs and speeding up contract settlements. But for this, reliable technological solutions are needed that meet local data storage and protection requirements.

Here, local integrators and developers play a key role. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) understand the specifics of regional regulation, data localization requirements, and the peculiarities of working with local banks and payment organizations. They help businesses build 'transitional' architectures that already work with local payment systems and banks, but are ready to connect to future CBDCs, international API platforms, and blockchain networks. This gives companies in Kazakhstan and Central Asia a chance not to catch up, but to enter global payment chains on equal terms with players from developed markets.

The number of neobank users worldwide has exceeded 1.3 billion, and digital currency pilots and projects are being conducted in more than 130 countries and currency unions.

Fintech in 2026 is entering a phase of standardization and maturation: CBDCs, blockchain payments, neobanks, and instant transfers are no longer an experiment but part of the new norm. For businesses, this is not an abstract trend but a question of competitiveness in the coming years: customers and partners will demand faster, cheaper, and more transparent payments. Companies that are already investing in modernizing payment infrastructure will win in margin, speed of capital turnover, and access to international markets. Partnering with technology integrators like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) helps to go through this transformation in a manageable way and with minimal risks.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What are CBDCs and how do they affect business payments?

CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currency) are a digital form of national currency issued by the central bank and circulating in the legal field alongside cash and non-cash money. In business payments, CBDCs can reduce settlement times from days to seconds and lower fees for cross-border operations by tens of percent. At the same time, companies will still be able to work through familiar bank accounts and payment providers, but transactions between them will go through new digital rails. It is important to prepare the infrastructure and processes now to quickly connect to such systems when they are launched en masse.

How do payments in stablecoins differ from classic bank transfers?

Stablecoin payments are processed over blockchain networks and settled in tokens pegged to a fiat currency, such as the US dollar, rather than through traditional bank correspondent accounts. The transfer time is usually from several seconds to several minutes, and fees are often less than 1 percent, while international bank transfers can take 1-3 days and cost 3-7 percent of the amount. However, to work with stablecoins, businesses need wallets, compliance procedures, and clear accounting rules. Many companies combine both approaches, using blockchain as a transport layer and entry and exit in fiat through banks.

What risks does the use of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in payments pose for companies?

The main risks are related to regulation, volatility, and compliance. If a business uses volatile cryptocurrencies, the exchange rate can change by tens of percent in a short period, which incurs financial losses, so stablecoins are often used for settlements. The second risk is non-compliance with AML/KYC and tax accounting requirements, which can lead to fines and account freezes. The third is technological: loss of access to the wallet or errors in smart contracts. To reduce risks, companies implement corporate wallets, signing policies, blockchain analytics, and work with licensed providers.

How long does it take to implement modern payment infrastructure for a business?

The time depends on the scale and complexity, but on average, a full-fledged payment modernization project takes 6 to 18 months. A small e-commerce or marketplace can implement multi-channel payment through cards, wallets, and instant payments in 3-6 months with a budget of several tens of thousands of dollars. For a large company with its own billing system, ERP, and international settlements, the project may take a year or more, with a budget of hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Working with an integrator like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) helps reduce the time with ready-made architectural templates and established integrations.

How can a business choose a fintech partner and save on digital payments?

It is necessary to evaluate not only the level of fees but also reliability, crediting speed, API quality, and compliance support. Often, changing the provider and optimizing the settlement scheme can reduce the total cost of payments by 10-30 percent due to lower fees and process automation. It is important to choose a partner who can work simultaneously with classic channels, instant payments, and blockchain infrastructure to avoid a technological dead end. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help to audit payments, select the optimal stack of providers, and design an architecture that reduces costs and is ready for future CBDCs and tokenized assets.

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