Uzbekistan to Legalize Stablecoins as Payment Method Starting 2026

Uzbekistan will formally integrate stablecoins into its national payment system beginning January 1, 2026, marking a significant leap toward digital finance adoption. The presidential decree, signed on November 27, establishes a regulatory framework for stablecoins and tokenized securities, including shares and bonds, with a dedicated trading platform under government oversight.

A controlled regulatory sandbox will be implemented, supervised by the National Agency of Perspective Projects and the Central Bank. This initiative aims to foster fintech innovation while mitigating risks associated with digital currency adoption. Pilot projects will test distributed ledger technology for payment systems, focusing on stablecoins pegged to fiat currencies or commodities.

The MOVE reflects growing global recognition of stablecoins' utility in reducing volatility compared to unpegged cryptocurrencies. However, the absence of state guarantees remains a key distinction from central bank digital currencies.