Kazakhstan to expand digital tenge turnover to 2 trillion within 12 months

September 21, 2026 at 08:38 AM2 min

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Kazakhstan plans to increase digital tenge turnover to 2 trillion tenge within the next 12 months, up from about 340 billion currently in circulation. The National Bank and the government intend to expand use of the programmable currency in budget planning, public procurement, and infrastructure projects.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan aims to raise digital tenge turnover to 2 trillion tenge within 12 months, from about 340 billion tenge currently in circulation.
Digital tenge is a programmable token that can restrict spending to specific purposes, such as preventing road construction funds from being diverted to real estate or luxury cars.
On July 18, 2026, norms came into force in Kazakhstan that legally recognized digital tenge as a third form of national currency and legal tender.
Only the National Bank of Kazakhstan can issue, circulate, and annul digital tenge, with all transfers processed through its protected platform.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said digital tenge is a centralized digital currency issued by the National Bank, unlike cryptocurrencies.

Expansion Plans

The government plans to increase digital tenge turnover to 2 trillion tenge within 12 months, up from about 340 billion tenge currently in circulation. National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov said the central bank previously aimed for 1 trillion tenge but now has a firm intention, agreed with the government, to reach 2 trillion tenge. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the expansion, stating that digital tenge will improve the efficiency of financial operations and government spending.

Programmable Currency Mechanics

Digital tenge is a third form of national currency alongside cash and non-cash funds, with each unit a unique token that can be programmed for a specific purpose. For example, if the state allocates money for road construction, the contractor cannot transfer it to a third-party account, cash it out, or use it to buy real estate or luxury cars. Talgat Amanbayev, chief innovation officer at the Astana International Financial Centre administration, said the project began in 2020 as a proposal to use new technologies to fight corruption by increasing transparency of government spending.

Legal Status and Issuance

On July 18, 2026, norms came into force in Kazakhstan that legally recognized digital tenge as a third form of national currency and legal tender. Only the National Bank of Kazakhstan can issue, put into circulation, and annul digital tenge, and all transfers go through its own protected platform. Prime Minister Bektenov emphasized that digital tenge is a centralized digital currency issued by the National Bank, unlike cryptocurrencies.