Central bank of Uzbekistan has announced a new stage of fintech reforms that will significantly accelerate the development of the national digital finance ecosystem. According to a Presidential decree, a $50 million venture fund and an Innovation Hub will be created under the Central Bank. These structures will consolidate financing, acceleration, mentorship, and technical support for fintech startups.

 

The reform package outlines several strategic priorities:

 

A five-year National Fintech Strategy will be developed. This strategy will guide and coordinate the long-term growth of the fintech ecosystem.

 

$1 billion in investment will be attracted into fintech startups by 2030. This will increase competition and accelerate the introduction of innovative financial solutions.

 

5,000 specialists will be trained and 100 startups will complete acceleration programs. This is expected to improve the quality, speed, and security of financial and banking services.

 

Open Banking principles will be introduced in the banking sector. This will enable standardized and secure data exchange between banks, payment institutions, and fintech companies.

 

Digital currencies will be piloted, including tokens backed by domestic or foreign currency.

 

The establishment of a $50 million venture fund marks an important milestone in positioning Uzbekistan as an emerging fintech leader in the region.