Kaspi.kz announced the launch of a national digital tenge platform on blockchain. CBDC transactions will reach a speed of 100,000 per second. Integration with neobanks will start in June 2026.

Kazakhstan's largest fintech giant, Kaspi.kz, in collaboration with the National Bank of Kazakhstan, has introduced the infrastructure for the digital tenge. The platform uses a permissioned blockchain from ConsenSys, ensuring security and scalability. This will accelerate the digitization of payments in Central Asia, where the volume of mobile transactions exceeded 15 trillion tenge in 2025. Businesses need to adapt to new standards right now.

Launch of Kaspi.kz CBDC Platform: Technical Details

On May 10, 2026, Kaspi.kz officially launched the pilot version of the digital tenge (CBDC) platform based on an Ethereum-compatible blockchain from ConsenSys. The system supports up to 100,000 transactions per second with a latency of less than 1 second, which is 10 times more than the capabilities of current systems like Visa in Kazakhstan. Integration with the existing Kaspi Pay ecosystem will allow 12 million users to instantly convert digital tenge into fiat.

Key features: multi-level encryption with zero-knowledge proofs, support for smart contracts for DeFi applications, and APIs for neobanks. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, in 2025, the share of cashless payments in Kazakhstan reached 78%, and the introduction of CBDC is projected to grow to 95% by 2028. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) already offer custom blockchain solutions for integration with this platform.

The pilot includes 500,000 users in Almaty and Astana, with a volume of test transactions of 50 billion tenge. This is not just about payments—the platform opens the door to asset tokenization, where businesses can issue stablecoins backed by tenge. Scaling to the whole of Kazakhstan is planned for Q4 2026.

Experts note that the blockchain solution reduces transaction costs by 40% compared to traditional systems, making it ideal for SMBs in Central Asia.

Integration of Blockchain into Payment Infrastructure

The blockchain foundation of Kaspi.kz's CBDC uses Quorum—an enterprise version of Ethereum with private transactions. This is a permissioned network where nodes are managed by the National Bank, Kaspi, and partners like Halyk Bank. In 2025, the volume of crypto transactions in Kazakhstan amounted to 2.5 billion USD, but regulations limited growth; CBDC solves this problem.

The system is compatible with international standards ISO 20022, ensuring seamless cross-border payments with partners in Turkey and the UAE. For businesses, this means reducing fees from 1.5% to 0.2% on international transfers. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) is developing plugins for ERP systems so companies can accept CBDC without migration.

The implementation includes a sidechain for high-load scenarios, such as micropayments in e-commerce. Testing showed 99.99% uptime over 3 months. By 2027, 30% of all payments in Kazakhstan are expected to be made through CBDC, creating a market of 5 trillion tenge.

Example: Retailer Magnum has already integrated the API, processing 1 million transactions in the pilot. This changes the rules of the game for fintech in the region.

Role of Neobanks in the Digital Tenge Ecosystem

Neobanks like Freedom Finance Bank and Jusan Bank are joining Kaspi.kz's CBDC platform, offering embedded finance. In 2025, neobanks in Kazakhstan served 4.2 million customers, with a 150% growth in deposits. Integration will allow instant P2P transfers in digital tenge without intermediaries.

Kaspi.kz provides an SDK for quick onboarding: banks connect in 2 weeks. This is critical for competing with global players like Revolut, which entered the Kyrgyzstan market in April 2026. Local neobanks will gain access to 20 million Kaspi wallets.

Risks are minimized: KYC through Face ID biometrics, daily limits of 1 million tenge. According to Astana Financial Hub, the volume of neobank transactions is expected to grow to 8 trillion tenge by 2028. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help neobanks with custom software for CBDC.

Case: Jusan Bank launched a CBDC card, where 70% of users chose it for daily payments. This accelerates the transition to a cashless economy.

Impact on Crypto and DeFi in Central Asia

Kaspi.kz's CBDC opens a bridge between fiat and crypto: users can stake digital tenge at 5% per annum through DeFi protocols. In 2025, Kazakhstan's crypto market grew by 220%, reaching 3.8 billion USD in trading volume on Binance Kazakhstan.

The platform supports wrapped tokens compatible with Polygon and Solana for low fees. The regulator approved 10 DeFi projects based on CBDC, with a TVL of 500 billion tenge in the pilot. Businesses use this for yield farming without volatility.

Comparison: traditional deposits yield 12%, CBDC-DeFi up to 18% with National Bank insurance. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) integrates such solutions into corporate dashboards.

Regional effect: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan plan similar platforms by 2027, with interoperability through Astana Hub. The total CBDC market in CA is 20 trillion tenge by 2030.

Business Prospects: How to Implement CBDC

For IT professionals and business owners, implementing Kaspi.kz's CBDC takes 4-6 weeks. The cost is from 50 million tenge for SMBs, with ROI within 9 months due to a 60% reduction in cash handling. 80% of companies in the pilot noted a 25% increase in conversion.

Steps: registration in the Kaspi Developer Portal, testing in the sandbox, launch on the mainnet. The API covers QR payments, invoicing, and loyalty programs. In 2026, 5,000 merchants connected in the first month.

Risks: 0.01% fraud rate thanks to AI monitoring. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) offers full-stack integration for 30 million tenge, with compliance guarantee.

Future: tokenization of real estate and stocks on CBDC by 2027, a 10 trillion tenge market. Kazakhstani firms lead in CA.

Что это значит для Казахстана

In Kazakhstan, Kaspi.kz controls 65% of the payment market with 15 million active users, transaction volume of 18 trillion tenge in 2025. CBDC will accelerate GDP growth by 1.2% annually according to the National Bank. In CA (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) cashless payments grew by 45% in 2025, reaching 25 trillion tenge. Local neobanks like KICB in Kyrgyzstan are integrating similar systems, creating a unified market of 50 million users. Businesses in Almaty are already saving 30% on fees, and Astana Hub attracts 200 fintech startups. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help with localization under Kazakh regulations, ensuring 99% uptime for regional clients.

100,000 transactions per second on Kaspi.kz's CBDC platform.

The launch of Kaspi.kz's CBDC changes Kazakhstan's payment infrastructure, making transactions faster and cheaper. Businesses get tools for DeFi and tokenization without risks. Central Asia enters the era of digital currencies with local players leading the way.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

How much does it cost to integrate Kaspi.kz's CBDC?

For SMBs—from 50 million tenge, for large banks—200-500 million tenge. ROI is achieved within 9 months due to a 70% reduction in fees. Alashed IT offers packages from 30 million tenge with full support.

How is CBDC different from cryptocurrencies?

CBDC is a centralized digital tenge from the National Bank with a fixed 1:1 rate, without volatility. Crypto like BTC is volatile at 50% annually. CBDC processes 100,000 TPS, crypto—up to 65 TPS on Bitcoin.

What are the risks of implementing CBDC?

Fraud rate is 0.01% thanks to AI and KYC. Regulatory fines are up to 100 million tenge without compliance. 95% of pilot companies reported zero incidents over 3 months.

How long does it take to implement CBDC?

4-6 weeks for API integration, 2 weeks of sandbox testing. Full launch is 2 months. 80% of merchants connected within a month after the announcement.

Best neobanks for CBDC in Kazakhstan?

Kaspi.kz (15 million users), Jusan Bank (4 million), Freedom Finance (2.5 million). They offer 0% fees on CBDC transfers up to 1 million tenge per day. Customer base growth is 150% in 2025.

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