President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a landmark decree on July 8, 2026, aimed at expanding cryptocurrency regulation and adoption across Kazakhstan. The decree, drafted jointly by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development (MAIDD), the National Bank of Kazakhstan, and the Astana International Financial Centre, is designed to establish a fully regulated digital asset market and attract foreign capital.
A central focus of the decree is the facilitation of stablecoin-based cross-border settlements. Officials believe this mechanism will ease payments for imports and exports, allowing businesses to transact alongside conventional banking channels while encouraging the repatriation of funds held abroad. Retail traders currently using unregulated foreign exchanges and wallets will be offered a voluntary declaration process to migrate assets to licensed domestic providers.
To incentivize this shift, the government is exploring exemption from personal income tax on profits earned through regulated digital asset transactions. "Income from digital asset transactions conducted through Kazakhstan’s regulated infrastructure is planned to be exempt from individual income tax," the ministry stated. Vice Minister Gizzat Baitursynov emphasized the goal of creating a clear and predictable environment for participants, from miners to financial institutions, while safeguarding citizens.
In the mining sector, the decree permits the use of associated petroleum gas and natural gas from oil fields for autonomous power generation when not required by the state, with the resulting electricity allocated to mining operations. This aligns with the government’s “70/30” energy model, which allows data centers and miners to access up to 70% of new generating capacity from infrastructure upgrades.
Beyond payments and mining, the decree also pushes for the development of tokenized financial instruments and national trading infrastructure, including the potential issuance of tokenized government bonds. These measures collectively position Kazakhstan as a more crypto-friendly jurisdiction, aiming to bring clarity to the industry and attract institutional and retail participation.
