The digital assets law in Kazakhstan: what is allowed and what is not
What the law "On Digital Assets in the Republic of Kazakhstan" regulates: secured and unsecured assets, mining, exchange licenses, individuals' rights and taxes.
The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Digital Assets in the Republic of Kazakhstan" was signed in February 2023. It laid the foundation for regulating crypto, mining and exchange.
Secured and unsecured assets
| Type | What it is | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Secured | Grants rights to goods, services or money | Tokenised assets |
| Unsecured | No backing, value set by the market | Bitcoin, Ethereum, most coins |
What individuals may do
- own crypto and keep it in their own wallet;
- buy and sell crypto with licensed operators;
- withdraw income in tenge to their own bank account.
What is not allowed
- paying for goods and services with crypto inside Kazakhstan;
- running a crypto exchange business without a license;
- hiding income from crypto sales from the tax office.
Exchange licenses
In 2026 the National Bank of Kazakhstan began licensing digital asset exchange operators. They are listed in the registry, and Cryptokurs compares their rates in real time. AIFC platforms operate in parallel, see the lesson on the AIFC and AIX.
Taxes
From 2026, under the new Tax Code, an individual's profit from selling digital assets is subject to personal income tax at 10% or 15%. Details in the lessons on crypto taxes and form 270.00.
FAQ
Is crypto allowed in Kazakhstan?
Owning crypto and exchanging it with licensed operators is legal. Crypto is not legal tender: you cannot pay for goods with it inside the country.
What is an unsecured digital asset?
An asset not backed by rights to the issuer's goods, services or money. Bitcoin, Ethereum and most popular cryptocurrencies fall into this category.
Who may exchange crypto for tenge?
Companies licensed by the National Bank of Kazakhstan to exchange digital assets, as well as licensed AIFC platforms under AIFC law.
Updated October 6, 2026