The National Bank of Georgia used a panel discussion at the Peer-to-Peer Financial Systems Workshop in Astana to present Georgia’s recent work on payments modernization and virtual asset regulation. Vice President Ekaterine Galdava highlighted reforms including development of modern payment infrastructure, adoption of ISO 20022 standards and creation of an instant payments ecosystem. In the discussion on virtual assets, Galdava described the central bank’s regulatory approach as having started with anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism requirements for virtual asset service providers. From 2026, prudential supervision also applies to the sector, extending oversight to market risk management and stronger protection of consumer interests. The workshop, organized by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, focused on financial infrastructure, payments, digital technologies, data exchange and the future of financial systems. Representatives of the National Bank of Georgia also used the meetings to share Georgia’s experience of ongoing payment-sector reforms, payment infrastructure modernization and regulation with international counterparts.
National Bank of Georgia2026-06-19
National Bank of Georgia outlines payments modernization and virtual asset oversight approach at Astana workshop
At a financial systems workshop in Astana, the National Bank of Georgia presented its payments modernization agenda and its regulatory approach to virtual assets. The central bank highlighted payment infrastructure upgrades, ISO 20022 implementation and instant payments, and said prudential supervision of the virtual asset sector has applied from 2026 after an initial AML/CFT-based framework.