Bishkek, 30 October. The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan will start testing the platform of the digital som — an electronic form of the national currency — in 2027, and when it will become available to citizens and businesses is not yet known, the National Bank told the 24.kg agency.
By the end of 2026 the regulator intends to complete the basic version of the platform. The regulatory framework has been prepared, the design documentation approved and commercial banks selected for the pilot; individual functions have already been checked in a test environment, but a full test with citizens and businesses has not yet begun. The timing of wide adoption will depend on the pilot results. “Developing and introducing central bank digital currencies is a complex, multi-stage process requiring careful testing of technological solutions, security and payment infrastructure readiness,” the National Bank explained. The project is financed from the bank’s own funds.
What it means: Kyrgyzstan is moving towards a digital currency more slowly and cautiously than its neighbours: first a technical platform and a pilot with banks, and mass use only after their results.
Who benefits: The National Bank gains control over the payment system and settlement data. The state gains transparency of targeted budget payments. For citizens nothing changes yet: cash and cards remain.
Background: A central bank digital currency is a third form of money alongside cash and non-cash: it is issued by the central bank itself rather than commercial banks. In Kazakhstan the digital tenge was launched in 2023 and is used in pilot projects, including with budget funds; in Russia the largest banks begin mass rollout of the digital rouble from September 2026.
