The National Bank of Kazakhstan has announced the launch of a large-scale project for crypto cards that will be integrated into the ecosystem of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). This new financial instrument will allow citizens of the country to pay for goods and services using digital assets, which will be instantly converted into fiat currency.
This is reported by Finway
Unique Integration of Cryptocurrencies into Banking Infrastructure
The project involves close collaboration between the National Bank, commercial banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and fintech companies. The crypto cards will be connected to wallets on European exchanges licensed by the AIFC. As a result, users will be able to make payments anywhere, with digital assets automatically converted into the national currency and credited to the payment card.
“This solution provides a safe and convenient integration of digital asset transactions into the existing payment infrastructure,” emphasized the National Bank.
Instant conversion and payment convenience will be made possible through integration with banks and specialized gateways of the AIFC, regulatory experts stress. This mechanism will allow for legal cryptocurrency transactions without the need for additional exchange procedures.
Further Initiatives in the Field of Digital Assets
In 2025, Kazakhstan plans to launch pilot projects with stablecoins pegged to the tenge, as well as projects for the tokenization of assets, including real estate and securities. Services for accounting digital object equipment, exchanging, and storing crypto assets are also being developed. According to representatives of the National Bank, these innovations will contribute to the development of the economy and increase the legitimacy of crypto services in the country.
It is worth noting that Kazakhstan has already announced the creation of an experimental zone called CryptoCity, where transactions using digital assets for purchases and service payments are allowed. Additionally, the country’s stock exchange is expanding its cooperation with global cryptocurrency ecosystems such as Solana and Jupiter.