QR payments in Kazakhstan surpass card transactions via POS by 38%

August 24, 2026 at 01:48 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

QR-code payments in Kazakhstan exceeded bank card transactions via POS terminals by 38% in number and 13% in volume in the first half of 2026, according to the National Bank. Kazakhstani residents made 7.1 billion cashless transactions worth 92.1 trillion tenge during the period. The shift comes as cash withdrawals fell 5.8% in number and 3.8% in volume.

Key Facts

QR-code payments exceeded card transactions via POS terminals by 38% in number and 13% in volume in H1 2026.
Kazakhstani residents made 7.1 billion cashless transactions worth 92.1 trillion tenge in the first half of 2026, up 5.1% in number and 4.2% in volume year-on-year.
Cash withdrawals fell 5.8% in number and 3.8% in volume in H1 2026.
90% of cashless transaction volume is conducted via internet, mobile banking apps, and QR codes.
The Interbank Mobile Payment System processed over 8 million transactions worth 210 billion tenge in its first month of operation in July 2026.

Payment Channel Shift

QR-code payments surpassed card transactions via POS terminals by 38% in number and 13% in volume in the first half of 2026. The National Bank of Kazakhstan published the data on August 24 in its review of the payment services market for H1 2026. 90% of cashless transaction volume is conducted via internet, mobile banking apps, and QR codes. The comparison covers QR operations versus card operations through POS terminals, not overall card usage.

Cashless Growth and Cash Decline

Kazakhstani residents made 7.1 billion cashless transactions worth 92.1 trillion tenge in H1 2026, up 5.1% in number and 4.2% in volume. Daily cashless transactions average over 39 million operations worth 509 billion tenge. Cash withdrawals fell 5.8% in number and 3.8% in volume during the same period. The National Bank stated the figures confirm large-scale integration of digital payment solutions into consumer behavior.

Interbank Payment Systems

The Interbank Payment Card System processed over 350 million transactions worth 3.3 trillion tenge in H1 2026. The Interbank Mobile Payment System, launched in July 2026, processed over 8 million transactions worth 210 billion tenge in its first month. The mobile system handles transfers by phone number and QR code.