Uzbekistan Greenlights Stablecoin Payments in New Sandbox from Jan 1, 2026
Uzbek authorities have approved a regulatory sandbox that will allow stablecoins to be used as a formal means of payment and enable trading in tokenized securities beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The announcement signals a move from restrictive policy toward a supervised testing environment where firms can operate with clearer legal status while regulators monitor market and consumer protections.
The change could accelerate payments innovation and tokenized capital formation in Central Asia by providing on- and off-ramps for businesses and investors, and may attract regional crypto and fintech activity. Market participants should watch the sandbox’s licensing terms, AML/KYC requirements and technical standards, which will determine how quickly projects — including web3 platforms tied to tickers like SAND — can expand in Uzbekistan. This is a notable step toward mainstreaming digital assets, but implementation details will shape its real-world impact.