tenge

The tenge (symbol ₸; ISO code KZT) is the currency of Kazakhstan. It is subdivided into 100 tiyin, though tiyin is rarely used today due to inflation. The tenge is issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan. It was introduced on November 15, 1993, after Kazakhstan gained independence, replacing the Russian ruble as the country's monetary unit. The central bank designs and issues banknotes and coins in multiple denominations, and uses monetary policy tools to maintain price stability.

In 2013, Kazakhstan adopted the official symbol ₸ for the tenge, which is also encoded in Unicode as U+20B7. The symbol appears on banknotes and coins and is used in domestic and international transactions.

The tenge is the legal tender throughout Kazakhstan and is used for all domestic payments. Kazakhstan operates a managed float exchange-rate regime, with the central bank occasionally intervening in currency markets to limit excessive volatility. The tenge has experienced periods of devaluation and volatility, reflecting changes in global commodity prices and domestic macroeconomic conditions. The currency is integral to Kazakhstan's economy, including its oil and mineral sectors, and is commonly used in cash and digital payments.