Kazakhstan is gradually moving from testing the digital tenge to its practical implementation. In 2026, the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) is already being used in pilot public procurement projects and selected government budget payments. Experts believe the initiative could improve transparency, accelerate payments, and strengthen Kazakhstan’s investment appeal.
The digital tenge is the third form of Kazakhstan’s national currency alongside cash and bank deposits. Unlike physical cash or money held in bank accounts, the digital tenge is a direct digital liability of the National Bank of Kazakhstan stored in a secure electronic wallet.
According to Saida Tileulenova, a financial expert at the Qazaq Expert Club, the digital tenge does not represent a new currency. Instead, it is a new form of the existing national currency, with one digital tenge always equal to one conventional tenge.
The expert says the technology has the potential to make payments faster, reduce transaction costs, improve transparency in financial flows, and help combat the shadow economy.
One of the most significant advantages is expected to be in the public sector. Digital money can be programmed so that government funds are spent only for their intended purpose. For example, money allocated for building schools, roads, or other infrastructure projects cannot technically be redirected to unrelated expenses. This could significantly improve budget transparency and reduce the risk of misuse of public funds.
For this reason, Kazakhstan has chosen public procurement and government spending as the first areas for implementing the digital tenge.
Tileulenova also believes the project could enhance Kazakhstan’s investment attractiveness. Greater transparency in public finances and faster financial settlements may increase investor confidence and improve the country’s business environment.
The benefits are expected to extend beyond government and businesses. In the future, citizens will be able to make payments even without an internet connection, a feature that could prove especially valuable in remote regions or during temporary network outages.
At the same time, the expert stresses that the digital tenge is not intended to replace cash, bank cards, or mobile banking applications. Instead, it will serve as an additional payment option during the initial stages of implementation.
Kazakhstan is following a global trend in the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). More than 100 countries are currently exploring or piloting similar projects. Among the best-known examples are China’s digital yuan (e-CNY), the Bahamas’ Sand Dollar, and Nigeria’s eNaira. The European Central Bank, the United Kingdom, India, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates are also advancing their own CBDC initiatives.
According to assessments by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kazakhstan’s digital tenge project is among the most technologically advanced CBDC pilots in the developing world. Its key innovations include offline payment capability and programmable money.
Experts say the project’s long-term success will depend not on the technology itself but on its real economic impact. If the digital tenge increases fiscal transparency, speeds up transactions, lowers costs, and creates new opportunities for businesses and consumers, it could become a significant milestone in Kazakhstan’s digital economic transformation.