In February 2026, the Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan officially confirmed at a government meeting that Kazakhstan will launch a regulated cryptocurrency market. The decision marks a transition toward a fully legalized model for digital asset circulation at the national level.

🏛️ Until now, cryptocurrency operations in Kazakhstan were concentrated primarily within the jurisdiction of the Astana International Financial Centre. The AIFC operated as a separate legal regime with its own licensing framework for exchanges and digital asset service providers. However, the nationwide regulatory model remained limited, which created a gap between the institutional platform of the AIFC and the actual domestic demand for cryptocurrencies.

⛏️ Kazakhstan already has substantial experience in the crypto industry. In 2021–2022, the country ranked among the global leaders in Bitcoin mining, accounting for an estimated 13 to 18 percent of the global hash rate following the relocation of mining operations from China.

The growing interest in cryptocurrencies among private investors made the establishment of a transparent legal framework inevitable. According to statements by the regulator, the infrastructure to be introduced in 2026 will include:

—official licensing of cryptocurrency exchanges and exchange platforms;
—creation of a national digital asset custody system based on the central depository infrastructure;
—implementation of financial monitoring and client identification standards;
—integration of cryptocurrency transactions into the national tax and reporting system.

🌐 The Astana International Financial Centre will retain its status as an international financial platform. However, its exclusive role in cryptocurrency regulation will be reduced. Previously, it functioned as the only fully legal environment for digital asset operations. Under the new model, regulation will expand beyond a single jurisdiction and apply at the national level.