8B and PayRow bring local payment acceptance to GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus

A global event built on local payments

For two days, Almaty hosts more than 600 exhibitors, participants from 60+ countries, and over 10,000 professionals across AI, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud, and digital government.

But global events often face a local constraint: payments. While cross-border commerce is widely discussed, paying with a local bank account or wallet can still be difficult. At 8B, we see this as an infrastructure gap, and an opportunity to fix it.

What goes live in 2026

At GITEX 2026, ticketing and services will run through a single checkout. This checkout will support cards issued by leading Kazakhstani banks.

In Kazakhstan, payments are processed via Zesta LLP, a licensed payment organisation (License No. 02-23-179), ensuring full regulatory compliance.

What comes next: 2027 expansion

By the next edition, the same checkout will expand to include:

• Uzum
• HUMO
• Uzcard
• national QR systems of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
• Kyrgyzstan’s ELQR

The goal is to move from local acceptance to a fully integrated regional payment experience.

How it works

8B provides access to Central Asia’s payment infrastructure including domestic card schemes and instant payment systems through a single API. PayRow adds merchant infrastructure, settlement, and acquiring capabilities. Together, this creates a unified checkout that connects regional payment rails with global merchants.

A phased approach to interoperability

GITEX 2026 is the starting point.

Instead of launching a fully built system at once, 8B and PayRow are rolling out functionality step by step:

• 2026 → Kazakhstani cards
• 2027 → wallets and national QR systems

This approach allows the infrastructure to scale while remaining reliable and compliant.

Why this matters

This project goes beyond a single event. It demonstrates how national payment systems can be connected into a usable, real-world cross-border experience.

The same infrastructure can support:

• international events
• e-commerce platforms
• travel services
• cross-border merchants

GITEX is the first live deployment.

What’s next

8B is already working to extend this payment stack to other flagship events across Central Asia throughout 2026.

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