Kazakhstan’s National Bank Rolls Out Crypto Card For Instant Conversion to Fiat

The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) officially launched its crypto card initiative on June 3, aligning with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive to enhance the country’s digital asset ecosystem.

The announcement was made during a key meeting with stakeholders, including banks, crypto exchanges, and fintech firms, to assess the development of tokenized financial services and digital asset innovations.

Crypto Card Functionality: How It Works

Kazakhstan’s crypto card is designed as a non-cash payment solution within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Users need a crypto wallet from a licensed digital asset service provider to use the card for everyday transactions.

According to NBK’s press release:

“Transactions are processed using fiat currency following the immediate conversion of digital assets. This is enabled by the integrated crypto-to-fiat infrastructure between the bank and the licensed AIFC crypto provider.”

This allows users to spend crypto instantly while merchants receive fiat payments, simplifying the payment process.

5 Major Banks Join Kazakhstan’s Crypto Card Pilot

As of June 5, five leading banks have joined the pilot program:

• Halyk Bank
  
• Forte
  
• Freedom Bank
  
• RBK Bank
  
• Altyn Bank
  

NBK Governor Timur Suleimenov highlighted that these are among the most prominent financial institutions in Kazakhstan. The crypto card will enable users, including those using exchanges like Binance through AIFC, to make seamless payments for goods and services.

What’s Next? Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets on the Horizon

Kazakhstan is preparing several upcoming pilot projects to further expand its digital finance ecosystem, including:

• Stablecoins backed by the national currency for settlement purposes.
  
• Tokenization of financial investments, including equity-like securities.
  
• Enhanced frameworks for crypto asset storage and exchange transactions using crypto as collateral.
  

Final Thoughts: Kazakhstan’s Vision for a Digital Finance Hub

With this crypto card initiative, Kazakhstan is pushing forward as a regional leader in regulated digital asset innovation. Backed by the AIFC’s legal framework and growing institutional involvement, the country is laying the foundation for a robust crypto finance ecosystem, including regulated crypto mining, asset tokenization, and real-world crypto utility.

As pilot projects roll out, Kazakhstan may soon set a new benchmark in state-backed crypto integration.