Kazakhstan’s Crypto Boom Hits $1.4B—Now Gunning for Central Asia’s Throne

Astana isn’t just mining Bitcoin—it’s mining geopolitical influence. Kazakhstan’s crypto sector just blasted past $1.4B in transactions, and the government’s doubling down with tax breaks and infra projects to bury regional rivals.

Behind the surge? A perfect storm of cheap energy, loose regulations, and that classic post-Soviet hustle. While Western regulators tie themselves in knots, Kazakh miners are plugging into Soviet-era power grids like it’s 1991.

One hedge fund manager quipped: ’Finally, an emerging market where the volatility isn’t just in the currency.’

Energy Improvements Through Crypto Mining Partnerships

In the op-ed, Tuleushin outlined how crypto mining could drive both power grid improvements and environmental benefits.

“Miners could help us upgrade our energy system,” he said, noting that in the U.S., miners assist in grid balancing by consuming excess energy during low-demand periods.

Kazakhstan’s version, the “70/30 project,” involves foreign investors funding the modernization of thermal power stations, with 70% of the new capacity allocated to the national grid and 30% reserved for miners.

The country has also made progress in formalizing its crypto economy. Since 2023, it has registered 415,000 mining machines, issued 84 licenses (64 active, 13 suspended, 7 revoked), and accredited five mining pools, three of which remain operational.

As a result, trading volumes at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), the country’s special economic zone for digital finance, surged from $324.2 million in 2023 to $1.4 billion in 2024.

At the same time, regulators are cracking down on illegal activity.

For example, in 2024 alone, authorities shut down 36 unauthorized platforms with a total turnover of 60 billion tenge ($118 million), froze $4.8 million in assets, and blocked over 3,500 unlicensed crypto websites.

Kazakhstan regulator quoted that several illegal exchanges have recently played a key role in money laundering schemes.#KazakhstanCrypto #CryptoExchanges https://t.co/hN5CHiRbSp

Despite these enforcement efforts, experts estimate that 91.5% of crypto-related activity in 2023 occurred outside regulatory oversight, contributing to an estimated total transaction volume of $4.1 billion.

Tuleushin acknowledged this challenge and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing cleaner energy sources, strengthening regulatory compliance, and positioning Kazakhstan as a transparent and competitive crypto hub in Central Asia.

Kazakhstan Eyes Nationwide Crypto Expansion Despite Exchange Bans

Kazakhstan currently classifies digital assets into two categories: covered assets, backed by real-world goods like real estate or patents, and non-covered assets, which include cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Legal trading of both asset types is restricted to the AIFC, which operates under its own legal and financial framework.

Kazakhstan is pushing to expand crypto regulation beyond the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), with Vice Minister Kanysh Tuleushin saying the Digital Ministry is working closely with the National Bank and the financial regulator to build a compliant ecosystem.

Kazakhstan is exploring the launch of crypto banks as part of its broader push to build a sustainable and regulated digital asset ecosystem.#Kazakhstan #Bitcoinhttps://t.co/egghK92tqY

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov also revealed plans to explore crypto banks, responding to a formal inquiry from members of Parliament, as reported by the Astana Times.

However, this push comes amid tough enforcement. Authorities have blocked access to Coinbase and Kraken for non-compliance, shut down foreign brokers, and made many exchange websites accessible only via VPN.

Licensed platforms like Binance and Bybit continue to operate legally.

@binance_kz and @Bybit_Official are on the brink of becoming the country’s first regulated Digital Asset Trading Facilities (DATFs) in Kazakhstan after receiving full authorization from the Astana Financial Services Authority!#Binance #Bybit…https://t.co/hAo1DizcAP

Despite the crackdown, public adoption is rising. A recent report from RISE Research found that crypto ownership in Kazakhstan has doubled over two years, and tax revenues from the sector are climbing, indicating growing interest and market potential.