Kyrgyzstan Unveils Stablecoin on BNB Chain and Sets Sights on CBDC Launch

Kyrgyzstan has officially launched its first national stablecoin, KGST, pegged 1:1 to the Kyrgyzstani som, signaling a major leap toward full-scale digital finance adoption. The token runs on the BNB Chain, and former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao confirmed that BNB could be part of the country’s upcoming digital asset reserve.

President Sadyr Japarov and CZ attended the second meeting of Kyrgyzstan’s National Council for the Development of Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies, where officials also confirmed that the country will pilot its own central bank digital currency (CBDC) — the “digital som.” The move cements Kyrgyzstan’s position among the first Central Asian nations to combine a national stablecoin, CBDC exploration, and blockchain education strategy.

Local outlet KG24 reported that Kyrgyzstan’s crypto committee has been tasked with ensuring KGST’s listing on international exchanges and proposing a framework for a national crypto reserve within two months. The pilot for the digital som will progress in three stages: integrating commercial banks, enabling government payments through the Central Treasury, and testing offline transactions before a nationwide rollout.

While the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic previously said it would decide on a CBDC by 2026, the accelerated rollout suggests growing confidence in blockchain technology’s role in economic modernization, financial inclusion, and transparency.

President Japarov also directed the Ministry of Science and Innovation to expand digital literacy programs and train blockchain and AI specialists. CZ announced Binance Academy’s integration with ten Kyrgyz universities to localize blockchain education and fully adapt the Binance app for the country.

The announcement came just days after CZ received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, adding a dramatic twist to an already historic week for crypto and global digital finance.