Kyrgyzstan Launches Stablecoin on BNB Chain, Eyes National Digital Currency and Crypto Reserve

Core Insights - Kyrgyzstan has launched a new stablecoin, KGST, pegged 1:1 to the national currency, the som, as part of its strategy for broader crypto adoption [1][7] - The government plans to pilot a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and establish a national crypto reserve [1][7] Group 1: Stablecoin Launch - The stablecoin KGST operates on the BNB Chain, with BNB likely to be included in the future national crypto reserve [2] - The crypto committee in Kyrgyzstan is responsible for ensuring KGST's listing on international exchanges and proposing a national crypto reserve within two months [3] Group 2: CBDC Pilot - The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic will conduct a three-phase pilot of the digital som, starting with interbank transfers and progressing to government and social payments [4][5] - The final phase will test offline and low-connectivity transactions before a national rollout, with a decision on the CBDC issuance expected by 2026 [5] Group 3: Education and Innovation - President Japarov has directed the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to develop digital financial literacy programs and train specialists in blockchain and AI [6]