A conversation with TBC’s Digital Banking Tribe Lead – Giorgi Kanchaveli

Interest in digital assets continues to grow in Georgia as cryptocurrencies become an increasingly recog-nized investment option. As part of a broader effort to expand access to investment products, TBC has introduced cryptocurrency investing through its mobile banking app, giving customers a simple and trust-ed way to access digital assets. Investor.ge spoke with TBC’s Digital Banking Tribe Lead Giorgi Kanchaveli about the evolution of the crypto market in Georgia, the barriers that have limited wider adoption, and how the bank is making digital assets more accessible to everyday investors.

How would you describe the current state of cryptocurrency adoption in Georgia? What trends are you seeing among Georgian investors, and how has interest in digital assets evolved over the past few years?

Interest in digital assets is clearly on the rise in Georgia. Over the past few years, we have seen growing demand from customers who are looking for modern, alternative investment opportunities and seeking to build more diversified investment portfolios.

This trend did not come as a surprise to us. Two years ago, we began democratizing investing by enabling customers to invest in international stock markets directly through TBC Mobile Bank. Today, our invest-ment platform has more than 170,000 users, with total invested assets exceeding USD 120 million.

During this period, we also observed rapidly growing interest in cryptocurrencies. While demand was evident, the biggest challenge for customers was the complexity of the purchasing process. Removing that barrier became our priority. Today, customers can buy cryptocurrencies in TBC Mobile Bank in just three clicks.

Despite growing interest in digital assets, many people have remained on the sidelines. What do you see as the main barriers preventing wider participation in cryptocurrency investing?

Based on our observations, the biggest challenges have been accessibility and the complexity of the investment process.

Until recently, purchasing cryptocurrencies typically required users to register on multiple platforms, com-plete verification procedures, transfer funds, and navigate several technical steps that many found discour-aging. Security was another important consideration—people wanted to invest through an environment they already knew and trusted.

That is precisely why we developed a solution designed to eliminate these barriers. Today, customers can purchase cryptocurrencies in TBC Mobile Bank in just three clicks, making it significantly easier to take the first step.

By bringing cryptocurrency investing directly into its mobile banking app, TBC is making access to digi-tal assets more seamless for customers. How does this change the investment experience, and what role does it play in TBC’s broader strategy to expand access to investment opportunities?

This is a natural continuation of our long-term strategy. TBC has always been committed to innovation. We were the first bank in Georgia to introduce mobile and internet banking. Later, we expanded into Uzbeki-stan, where we built a fully digital bank that now serves more than six million monthly active users.

Two years ago, we began democratizing investing by providing customers with access to U.S. equities. Today, we have expanded that investment ecosystem by adding cryptocurrencies.

For customers, the biggest change is simplicity. There is no longer a need to use multiple platforms or go through additional technical procedures—cryptocurrencies can now be purchased directly within TBC Mobile Bank in just three clicks.

As a result, TBC Mobile Bank now offers access to nearly 60 cryptocurrencies—the broadest crypto offer-ing currently available through a banking app in Georgia. We will continue expanding the platform with new features to further enhance the customer experience.

Many Georgians are familiar with traditional investment options such as deposits, real estate, or foreign currency holdings. How should investors think about cryptocurrencies alongside these more estab-lished asset classes, and what role can they play within a diversified portfolio?

Cryptocurrencies represent an additional investment opportunity that can form part of a well-diversified investment portfolio.

Today, customers increasingly want access to different asset classes within a single ecosystem, allowing them to make investment decisions that align with their individual financial goals. This is one of the key reasons interest in cryptocurrencies continues to grow- they are viewed as an additional investment option rather than the only one.

Globally, we are seeing increasing interest in digital assets from both retail and institutional investors. At the same time, it is important to recognize that cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and carry significant risks. Investment decisions should therefore always be made on the basis of careful research and informed judgment.

For readers who may be curious about cryptocurrency but haven’t yet taken the first step, what would you want them to know?

First and foremost, I would encourage them to make informed decisions. It is essential to understand the characteristics of any asset, as well as the risks involved, before investing. Cryptocurrencies are inherently volatile, and their value can fluctuate significantly.

Our role is to make access to modern financial instruments as simple and convenient as possible, enabling people to make investment decisions within an environment they already know and trust.

Ultimately, every investment decision should be made by the individual, based on their financial objectives, level of knowledge, and personal risk tolerance.