Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  In the heart of Central Asia, where digital infrastructure is rapidly transforming economies, one fintech company is quietly scaling across borders, building what could soon become a regional powerhouse.

Oson, founded in Uzbekistan in 2016, has evolved far beyond the scope of a typical e-wallet. With almost 2.7 million total registrations and a presence in six countries, Oson is redefining how digital financial services operate in emerging markets.

Fintech is surging across Central Asia and the MENA region. According to KPMG's forecasts, Uzbekistan is projected to reach $125 billion in cashless transactions by 2027, growing at an annual rate of 22%. In the MENA region, the fintech market is expected to grow from $1.66 billion in 2025 to $2.63 billion by 2030, with over 45 unicorns forecasted during that period (Mordor Intelligence, 2024). In response to the growing demand for cross-border, digital-first, and compliance-ready financial platforms in the region, Oson is strategically positioning itself as a significant contender in this field.

This article explores five reasons why Oson deserves attention as one of the most promising fintech ventures expanding from Central Asia into global markets.

A full-stack fintech infrastructure

At first glance, Oson might look like just another e-wallet. In reality, it's a full-stack fintech platform that powers both consumer experiences and enterprise-grade infrastructure. For businesses, Oson offers integration-ready payment APIs, white-label wallet solutions, and full merchant acquiring capabilities — all backed by PCI DSS-certified security and advanced fraud screening.

From a consumer perspective, Oson's mobile app offers much more than just simple peer-to-peer transfers. It facilitates payments by phone number and enables local and international money transfers across systems such as Uzcard, HUMO, Visa and Mastercard. However, Oson's ambition is to become a digital daily tool that goes beyond fast and seamless transactions. Users can manage utility payments with no fees, set up auto-pay to never miss a due date, customize their app experience with a widget builder, set up eSIM connectivity for global roaming and purchase gift cards for international platforms in just a few taps.

From Uzbekistan to MENA

Oson operates across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, UAE, and the USA, with partner networks extending into 15+ countries. Its expansion strategy is deliberate: build local infrastructure, hire regional leadership, and adapt to each market's regulatory environment.

Oson's expansion into Kazakhstan started with the launch of Interhub, its multichannel B2B platform for enterprise clients. Once the infrastructure was in place, the company introduced its consumer wallet and is now preparing to launch a dedicated eSIM app for mobile-first users. Following the establishment of its presence in the UAE, Oson is now directing its attention towards the broader MENA region.

Compliance-first approach

As the fintech sector grows, regulatory compliance becomes essential for achieving sustainable growth. Operating under a compliance-first model, Oson secures the relevant licenses and integrates directly with the banking and telecommunications infrastructures of each country in which it operates.

In Uzbekistan, for example, Oson was one of the first licensed e-money operators. In Kazakhstan and the UAE, its expansion has been built around regulatory approval and strategic local partnerships. This disciplined approach enables Oson to serve the B2G, B2B and B2C sectors, ensuring safety, data privacy and resilience against fraud across jurisdictions.

Solving infrastructure gaps in digital finance

In many of the markets where Oson operates, formal banking services remain out of reach for large segments of the population. Traditional infrastructure is often fragmented, cash remains dominant, and access to everyday financial tools is uneven.

By combining local payment rails with international card networks, and offering telecom integration for greater reach, Oson bridges formal and informal financial ecosystems.

By the Numbers

As of 2024, the platform processed over 20 million transactions, reaching an annual GMV of $235 million. The company currently serves 194,000+ active users monthly (MAU), with 500+ active B2B partners onboarded globally.

Revenue growth is also accelerating, from $5.9 million in 2023 to $8.8 million in 2024, with $5.6 million already earned in Q1 2025 alone.

Oson is a financial operating system for the unbanked and underserved, built in Central Asia, with a presence across MENA, and with a focus on inclusivity, security and sustainable growth. It would be prudent for investors, regulators and ecosystem players to monitor the progress of this emerging fintech from Uzbekistan.