- Kyrgyzstan launched the KGST stablecoin on BNB Chain and began pilot testing its digital som CBDC.
- Binance Coin (BNB) will be added to the nation’s crypto reserve, with former Binance CEO CZ advising the government.
- Binance Academy will partner with 10 Kyrgyz universities to expand blockchain and AI education across the country.
Kyrgyzstan just made a major leap into the digital economy. The Central Asian nation launched its first national stablecoin, KGST, on BNB Chain — pegged 1:1 to the Kyrgyzstani som — while confirming plans for a central bank digital currency (CBDC). To top it off, the government announced that Binance Coin (BNB) will be part of its official crypto reserves, solidifying its growing partnership with Binance and former CEO Changpeng Zhao, who now serves as a strategic adviser to the country’s crypto committee.
Building a Crypto-Backed Financial System
The announcement came after a meeting between CZ and President Sadyr Japarov at Kyrgyzstan’s National Council for Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies. The crypto committee now has two months to list the KGST stablecoin on global exchanges and draft proposals for the national crypto reserve. According to reports from local outlet KG24, BNB will be formally included in the country’s digital reserve basket — a move that highlights Kyrgyzstan’s intent to blend traditional finance with modern crypto innovation.
President Japarov has also instructed the Ministry of Economy and Commerce to fast-track legislation around digital assets, aiming to make Kyrgyzstan a regional blockchain hub. The inclusion of BNB and KGST in national reserves marks a bold statement — one that places the country among the few integrating both public and decentralized assets at the state level.
Kyrgyzstan’s CBDC Pilot and Digital Som Testing
Meanwhile, the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic is preparing to pilot the digital som, its version of a central bank digital currency. The rollout will happen in three phases: the first will link commercial banks for interbank transfers, the second will connect the Central Treasury for social and government payments, and the third will focus on offline and low-connectivity transactions — crucial for rural regions.
The platform was built in partnership with Build Block TECH and has already been demoed publicly. If all goes smoothly, the CBDC could see a full national rollout before 2027. This positions Kyrgyzstan as one of the few countries actively developing both a state-backed stablecoin and a central bank digital currency at the same time — a rare and ambitious move in the global crypto landscape.
Education, Innovation, and Binance’s Growing Role
To strengthen the foundation, Kyrgyzstan is also investing in blockchain education. Binance Academy will collaborate with 10 leading universities to integrate blockchain and AI training into academic programs. The Binance app will also be localized to expand accessibility across the country. Law enforcement agencies are receiving crypto compliance training too, ensuring smoother adoption at the institutional level.
A recent Binance event in Bishkek drew over a thousand attendees, reflecting the country’s growing interest in digital finance. Alongside this, Web3 protocol EthSign and YZi Labs are partnering with Kyrgyzstan to support its digital transformation push. And in a twist of timing, CZ — recently pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump for past AML violations — announced the news just as BNB rose to $1,113, extending its rally over the week.
