National Bank of Kyrgyzstan to Launch Digital Som Testing in 2027

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan plans to begin full-scale testing of the digital som platform in 2027, the regulator announced. The basic version of the platform is to be completed by the end of 2026.

The National Bank stated that the regulatory framework has already been prepared, key project documentation has been approved, and commercial banks for participation in the pilot project have been selected. With their involvement, preliminary checks of individual functions were conducted in a test environment, but full-scale testing involving citizens and businesses under real conditions has not yet begun.

The digital som will become the third form of national currency alongside cash and non-cash money. It will be issued directly by the National Bank: one digital som equals one regular som. Special digital wallets have been provided for transactions, which can be opened through a commercial bank's mobile application.

The system will eventually enable programmable payments — for example, automatically transferring funds to a supplier after confirming delivery in government procurement. The possibility of conducting certain operations without an internet connection is also being considered, which is relevant for settlements with unstable connectivity.

Financing for development is being carried out using the National Bank's own funds. The regulator did not disclose the total project cost or the amount of funds already spent. The timeline for broad implementation of the digital som will be determined based on the results of the pilot project.