Uzbekistan's digital ecosystem operator Uzum has been named among the World's Top Fintech Companies by CNBC and global market research firm Statista for the first time in the 2026 edition of the ranking.

Uzum was included in the ranking's Neobanking category. It recognises next-generation digital financial services providers that deliver banking and banking-like services primarily through digital channels without relying on traditional branch networks.

The annual ranking is regarded as one of the fintech industry's leading global benchmarks, recognising companies that are shaping the future of financial services through technology, innovation and scalable digital solutions.

The recognition comes as digital financial services continue to expand across Uzbekistan, where millions of consumers increasingly use online platforms for payments, shopping, personal finance management and access to banking services.

“This recognition is, above all, a testament to the fact that an ecosystem approach is transforming the everyday financial experience of millions of people," said Djasur Djumaev, chief executive and founder of Uzum, which plans to IPO.

Djasur noted that the company was building an integrated digital ecosystem that combined financial and everyday services in a single platform, making banking, payments, shopping, instalment financing and money transfers more accessible through a seamless user experience.

More than 6mn users have adopted Uzum Bank cards, which Djasur described as an integral part of the company's ecosystem rather than simply a payment tool.

"By combining technology, convenience and an ecosystem-based model, we are able to scale our services rapidly, expand access to digital financial solutions, create new opportunities for entrepreneurs through embedded finance and contribute to the development of Uzbekistan's digital economy," he added.

The ranking is based on Statista's evaluation methodology, which combines general business performance indicators with category-specific key performance indicators tailored to each fintech segment. 

The methodology assesses companies on factors including operational performance, growth trajectory and digital maturity, in addition to overall scale.