hashbank has been awarded the title of Best New Digital Bank Georgia 2026 in the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards, an international awards programme operated by UK-based financial publisher GBAF Publications Ltd. The recognition comes as a capstone to a milestone year for the fully licensed digital bank operating in Georgia, a country that has been steadily positioning itself as a growing financial-technology hub in the South Caucasus region.

The award highlights new market entrants that demonstrate a combination of innovation, customer experience, and measurable impact. hashbank distinguishes itself by holding a full banking license paired with a digital-first product designed for a mobile-native generation—a combination that sets it apart in both the Georgian market and the wider region, where many app-based financial services still operate under lighter e-money or payment-institution permissions.

International experts assessing the award cited hashbank's innovative "borderless" model, which integrates traditional banking services, cross-border transfers, and digital assets (crypto) into a single, fully regulated, and secure platform. The convergence of fiat and crypto within a licensed bank places hashbank among a small group of regulated financial institutions globally working to bridge traditional and digital-asset services under one roof. This ecosystem was built in a remarkably short time following the bank's launch in the Georgian market.

The bank's rapid development is reflected in its growth metrics. Within five months of launch, hashbank attracted more than 40,000 fully verified customers, signalling strong market demand for a modern, flexible, and universal banking experience.

Licensed by the National Bank of Georgia, hashbank was founded in 2022 by Volodymyr Nosov, Lasha Papashvili, and Sulkhan Papashvili. The mobile-first digital bank is built on the principle that banking should feel human and operate without borders or bureaucracy, bringing fiat currency and digital assets together in a single app.

Goga Chanadiri, CEO of hashbank, commented on the award: "This award is a significant international recognition for hashbank, but what matters most to us is the value we deliver to our customers. We haven't just created another banking app—we are building a universal ecosystem for both individuals and businesses where financial borders no longer exist. By combining traditional reliability with digital innovation, we continue to establish a new, global standard for interacting with money."

hashbank has emerged as a notable disruptor and technology leader in Georgia. It was the first institution in the region to fully launch Mastercard Move for cross-border transfers and to upgrade its SWIFT partnership to the highest modern standards under SWIFT Essentials. A key milestone in its technological advancement was the integration of Mastercard Move, SEPA, and Visa Direct—implemented in record time to make international transfers instant, accessible, and straightforward for customers. In March 2026, hashbank expanded its multi-year partnership with Visa by introducing a welcome bonus paid in Bitcoin.

hashbank holds the same class of authorization as an established commercial bank, enabling it to accept deposits and extend credit in its own right. This stands in contrast to the lighter e-money or payment-institution permissions that many app-based banks operate under. The bank's infrastructure is built around a mobile-first concept, complemented by a multi-year Visa agreement, Mastercard payments, and international SWIFT transfers, with a core value proposition of borderless financial agility without bureaucracy.

Unlike most digital banks, hashbank is connected to its sister company WhiteBIT, Europe's largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic. This relationship enables crypto capabilities integrated directly into hashbank's own structure. The group serves approximately eight million users on the platform itself and around 35 million across its broader ecosystem.

For hashbank, the international recognition reinforces the premise that success in modern banking depends on the right balance of innovation, customer experience, business-segment needs, and technological advancement—the same principles that underpin Global Banking & Finance Review's evaluation criteria.