Kazakhstan maintains a legal and regulated framework for cryptocurrency activities primarily under the AIFC Rules on Digital Asset Activities effective since January 2024 and amended in 2026. The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) actively regulates and authorizes entities within the AIFC, including digital asset firms, with ongoing enforcement and cooperation with law enforcement.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 25/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | central asia |
| Currency | KZT |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | AFSA / NBK |
| Framework | AIFC Rules on Digital Asset Activities |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | DATF Authorization fee: $98,000 (one-time) + $500-$1,500 registration fee + $30,000 annual supervision fee + quarterly variable fees (capped at $250,000/year as of December 2025). Minimum capital: $200,000 or 12 months working capital, whichever is higher. |
AFSA provides fast-track authorization for firms licensed in acceptable regulatory regimes and regulates 369 authorized entities across various financial and digital asset activities.
No detailed enforcement information available
| Status | Launched |
| Name | Digital Tenge |
| Issuing Authority | National Bank of Kazakhstan |
| Model | retail |
| Technology | R3 Corda, Binance (DLT) |
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | Yes |
| FATF Status | compliant |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: regulated
DeFi activities are regulated under the AIFC framework with oversight by AFSA, ensuring compliance with AML and licensing requirements.
Status: regulated
Stablecoins are regulated under the AIFC digital asset rules, requiring licensing and compliance with financial regulations.
Status: unregulated
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.042/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 12% |
| Infrastructure | fair |
Mining is legal but restricted due to regulatory and energy consumption concerns; infrastructure is developing with moderate quality data centers.
| Stability | moderate |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 38/100 |
| Banking Access | moderate |
| Sanctions Program Active | No |
Risk Factors
Kazakhstan has moderate political stability with ongoing regulatory improvements in crypto. It is not under international sanctions but faces regional risks and moderate corruption levels.
Recent Political Events
Kazakhstan maintains a legal and regulated framework for cryptocurrency activities primarily under the AIFC Rules on Digital Asset Activities effective since January 2024 and amended in 2026. The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) actively regulates and authorizes entities within the AIFC, including digital asset firms, with ongoing enforcement and cooperation with law enforcement.
Kazakhstan is classified by FATF as: compliant.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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