Kazakhstan is discussing expanding the use of the digital tenge in the public sector.

According to the Senate, on February 19 members of the Committee on Finance and Budget met with representatives of interested government agencies to discuss the introduction of the digital tenge and its use in the public finance system.

According to official information, the meeting considered the practical use of the digital tenge in budget processes. This concerns how the instrument can be used in financing, allocating and controlling expenditures, as well as what organizational and technical conditions are needed to introduce it into public finance.

The digital tenge is actively developing in the country as part of a broader course toward digitalizing the financial system. Public materials note that the digital tenge pilot started in November 2023 with the participation of banks and testing of basic issuance and transfer scenarios.

In 2025–2026, the digital tenge began to be tested not only in a “sandbox” but also in applied cases related to financing and settlements. For example, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan reported using the digital tenge as part of a pilot when issuing a loan to finance the purchase of raw materials.

At the same time, international organizations are also showing interest in the project. In January 2026, the International Monetary Fund published a technical paper on further steps and issues that are important to consider in developing the digital tenge.

According to industry observers, the state’s interest in using the digital tenge in public finance is linked to the goals of transparency and manageability of budget flows. Expert publications emphasize that one of the expected effects may be more precise control over the intended use of funds and lower risks of misuse — provided that implementation is accompanied by clear rules and technical mechanisms.

It is also noted that expanding the use of the digital tenge is seen more broadly than a single departmental project: the materials mention pilots and the use of the instrument in several economic areas.

Further details — timelines, use cases and scaling — are expected to be clarified as the pilot stages progress and decisions are agreed upon within the financial bloc and digital agencies.