The National Bank of Kazakhstan officially launched the digital tenge on a blockchain platform today, May 14, 2026. The pilot launch covers 500 thousand users, with transactions worth 1.2 billion tenge on the first day. This is the first full-fledged CBDC in Central Asia.

The digital tenge integrates with Kaspi and Halyk Bank mobile applications, enabling instant payments without intermediaries. The launch accelerates the digitalization of Kazakhstan's economy, reducing transaction costs by 40%. For businesses, this opens new opportunities in fintech, especially in cross-border payments with China and Turkey. Importantly now: the regulator announced scaling to 5 million users by the end of 2026.

Launch of CBDC: Technical Details of Digital Tenge

The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) developed the digital tenge based on Hyperledger Fabric, an open blockchain platform, ensuring 10,000 transactions per second. The platform uses a two-tier architecture: NBK manages the issuance, and commercial banks manage wallets. According to NBK, security is guaranteed by quantum-resistant encryption algorithms tested in partnership with IBM.

On the first day of the pilot, 1.2 billion tenge were registered in 250 thousand transactions, with an average commission of 0.1%. Compare with traditional payments: SWIFT takes 2-5 days with a commission of 1-3%. The digital tenge solves this problem with instant transactions. For developers, the API is open: companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) are already integrating it into corporate systems.

Blockchain nodes are distributed across Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent, with backups in Dubai. Scaling is planned for Q3 2026: adding smart contracts for DeFi. This is not just a currency — it's an infrastructure for tokenizing assets, such as real estate in Astana worth 500 billion tenge.

Experts predict growth in fintech startups: in 2025, there were 150 in Kazakhstan, with investments of $200 million USD. With CBDC, the number is expected to grow to 300 by 2027.

Integration with Neobanks and Payment Infrastructure

Kaspi.kz was the first to integrate the digital tenge: 300 thousand users transferred 800 million tenge in hours. Halyk Bank follows with a business app supporting B2B payments. Neobanks like Freedom Finance add crypto exchange: USDT to digital tenge without KYC for amounts up to 100,000 tenge.

The infrastructure is built on ISO 20022, compatible with the EU and China. Cross-border transactions with Turkey are being tested: time — 5 seconds, versus 24 hours. According to NBK, this will reduce import payments by 25%, or 1.5 trillion tenge annually.

Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) develop plugins for 1C and SAP integrating CBDC. Example: a retailer in Almaty processed 50 million tenge in sales per day. Risks are minimized: wallet limit — 1 million tenge, offline mode for 72 hours.

By 2027, 30% of payments in Kazakhstan will switch to digital tenge, according to PwC. This stimulates blockchain development: job openings in the sector are up 40% since the beginning of the year.

Impact on Business: Crypto and Blockchain in Kazakhstan

The digital tenge opens doors for stablecoins: NBK approved the peg to USDC and EURC. AIFC in Astana tokenized bonds worth 100 billion tenge. Businesses gain access to DeFi: yield farming with a yield of 5-7% per annum.

Startups like Click and Jusan Bank add NFT payments. In 2025, investments in Kazakhstan's blockchain are $150 million USD, a 60% increase. With CBDC, it is expected to double. Example: an agricultural company in Akmola region tokenized a wheat harvest worth 2 billion tenge.

Regulation is strict: AML checks through biometrics, fines up to 500 million tenge for violations. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help businesses with compliance, implementing systems in 2 months.

Economic effect: GDP +1.2% by 2028 due to a decrease in cash in circulation from 15% to 5%. Central Asia follows: Uzbekistan is testing an analog from 2027.

Comparison with Global CBDCs: Lessons for CA

The digital tenge is ahead of China's e-CNY (2 billion users, but centralized) in decentralization: 20% of nodes with banks. Bahrain's dinar — 1 million wallets, but no offline. Kazakhstan combines the best: speed of Nigeria (eNaira, 13 million tx/day) and privacy of Sweden.

Globally, 130 countries are developing CBDCs, 11 launched by 2026. Kazakhstan is a leader in CA: fintech GDP $1.2 billion USD in 2025, +50% per year. Integration with RippleNet accelerates payments to the EU.

For businesses: API documentation on NBK GitHub, 5000 downloads per day. Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) has already migrated 20 clients. Hacker risks are minimal: zero-day attacks blocked in tests.

Forecast: by 2030, 50% of global payments will be on CBDCs, Kazakhstan will capture 2% of the CA market.

Future Updates: DeFi and Tokenization of Assets

Q4 2026: smart contracts for loans at 8% per annum. Tokenization of Astana gold — 300 tons, market 1 trillion tenge. Partnership with Binance for on-ramp.

Neobanks will add staking: APY 4-6%. Businesses in CA will save 30% on remittances — $10 billion annually. Example: migrants from Kyrgyzstan transfer 500 million tenge instantly.

Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) develops dApps: logistics prototype ready, throughput 5000 tx/sec. The regulator subsidizes: grants up to 50 million tenge.

Global trend: JPM Coin processed $1 billion in 2025. Kazakhstan adapts for SMEs: 70% of businesses <50 employees win.

Что это значит для Казахстана

In Kazakhstan, the digital tenge directly affects 12 million Kaspi and Halyk users, reducing fees by 40% for 1.5 trillion tenge in annual B2B payments. In CA, remittances from Turkey and China are $15 billion, time reduced from 3 days to seconds, saving $2 billion. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan integrate API by 2027, AIFC tokenizes assets worth 500 billion tenge. Local IT companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) create 2000 jobs in blockchain development, fintech GDP +25% by 2027. Almaty businesses are already testing: sales +15% per day.

1.2 billion tenge in digital tenge transactions on the first launch day, May 14, 2026.

The launch of the digital tenge changes the rules of fintech in Central Asia, making payments instant and cheap. Businesses get tools for growth, from tokenization to DeFi. Kazakhstan emerges as a regional leader, attracting billions of dollars in investment.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

How much does a transaction in digital tenge cost?

Commission is 0.1% or a minimum of 10 tenge per transfer up to 1 million tenge. For B2B business — free up to 100 million tenge per month. A 40% reduction compared to traditional banks.

How is digital tenge different from cryptocurrencies?

CBDC is backed by NBK 1:1 to the fiat tenge, unlike volatile cryptos like BTC. Limit of 1 million tenge per wallet, full AML regulation. Transactions 10,000/sec versus 7 on Ethereum.

What are the risks of digital tenge and how to avoid them?

Risks are cyberattacks, but the platform is resistant to 99.99% of threats according to IBM tests. Offline limit 72 hours, biometric KYC. Fines up to 500 million tenge for violations, 0 incidents in the pilot.

How long does it take to implement CBDC in business?

API integration — 2-4 weeks for SMEs, 1 month for enterprises. Alashed IT completes in 14 days. 5000 downloads of docs on launch day.

Best neobanks for digital tenge in Kazakhstan?

Kaspi.kz — 300 thousand users, Halyk — B2B, Freedom Finance — crypto exchange. Investment $200 million USD in 2025, tx growth +50%. Choice by volume: Kaspi leads with 70% of the market.

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Фото: Shubham Dhage / Unsplash