Solana Foundation has expanded its presence in Central Asia after signing a letter of intent with AirAsia and Kazakhstani cryptocurrency exchange Intebix to explore the launch of Evo (KZTE), a stablecoin pegged to Kazakhstan’s national currency, the tenge. The proposed digital asset would operate on the Solana blockchain and is expected to support payments, remittances, and decentralized finance applications within the region.
The agreement currently remains at the preliminary letter-of-intent stage, signaling the beginning of a collaborative initiative rather than a finalized launch. The partners indicated that the project would still require regulatory approvals and licensing from the Astana International Financial Centre and other relevant authorities before moving toward full deployment. No official launch date has been announced.
According to details surrounding the agreement, Intebix will act as the primary local partner due to its status as a licensed digital asset exchange in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, AirAsia’s participation suggested possible future integration of the stablecoin into the airline’s payment and loyalty infrastructure. The Solana Foundation is expected to provide the blockchain infrastructure and technical support necessary for issuing and processing KZTE transactions.
Kazakhstan Expands Digital Asset Ambitions
Kazakhstan has increasingly positioned itself as an emerging hub for blockchain and digital asset development in Central Asia. In recent years, the country strengthened its regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and blockchain-related businesses, particularly after the Astana International Financial Centre introduced licensing structures for crypto exchanges and custodians in 2023.
The proposed KZTE stablecoin aims to provide a blockchain-based digital representation of the Kazakhstani tenge for payments, remittances, and decentralized finance applications operating on Solana’s infrastructure.
The project also aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to modernize financial systems and reduce reliance on cash-based transactions. Following China’s restrictions on cryptocurrency mining in 2021, Kazakhstan emerged as an important destination for mining activity. More recently, however, regulatory attention in the country has shifted toward practical blockchain applications such as stablecoins and decentralized finance services.
For Solana, the initiative represents an opportunity to strengthen its role in the rapidly developing Central Asian blockchain market. Stablecoins linked to local fiat currencies have gained global attention as financial institutions and blockchain companies explore faster and more efficient payment systems.
AirAsia Explores Cross-Border Payment Opportunities
AirAsia’s involvement could also expand the airline’s fintech ambitions beyond Southeast Asia. The company has previously explored blockchain-powered loyalty systems and digital payment technologies, making the potential integration of a tenge-backed stablecoin a strategic extension of those efforts.
Industry observers indicated that a stablecoin linked to the tenge could support cross-border remittances and payment activity, especially for Kazakhstani citizens working abroad. Faster settlement times and lower transfer costs remain among the major advantages often associated with blockchain-based payment systems.
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The collaboration could allow AirAsia to integrate blockchain-based payment and loyalty solutions while enabling regulated cross-border financial transactions tied to Kazakhstan’s national currency.
Stablecoin Market Continues Growing
Globally, stablecoins tied to fiat currencies are increasingly viewed as tools capable of improving payment efficiency and financial inclusion. In Kazakhstan, where the tenge has experienced fluctuations against major global currencies, a regulated digital version of the currency could provide businesses and users with a more stable settlement mechanism inside digital asset ecosystems.
At the same time, Kazakhstan’s central bank has continued researching its own central bank digital currency initiative known as the digital tenge. Pilot programs related to the CBDC are already underway, raising the possibility that private-sector stablecoins such as KZTE could either complement or compete with state-backed digital currency efforts, depending on future regulatory developments.
The Solana Foundation’s partnership with AirAsia and Intebix highlights growing institutional interest in regulated blockchain payment infrastructure and stablecoin adoption across Central Asia’s evolving digital economy.
