- Kazakhstan plans a national crypto-reserve to support Bitcoin payments and digital assets.
- New legal framework aims to regulate crypto transactions and protect citizens from fraud.
- Kazakhstan enforces stricter rules on unlicensed crypto transactions and exchanges.
The National Bank of Kazakhstan has announced its plans to establish a national crypto-reserve within the framework of its CryptoCity program. The reserve is expected to promote Bitcoin payments and establish a transparent regulatory framework for digital assets. The decision will be a significant step toward integrating cryptocurrencies into the national financial system.
The National Bank is now researching the idea of maintaining a crypto reserve. An affiliate of the National Bank will control the reserve. The report indicates that the reserve may include seized crypto assets, as well as those mined by crypto miners, which may comprise members of the government.
Kazakhstan’s National Bank Advances Crypto Reserve and AI Laws
National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov has confirmed that the bank is working to develop a reserve framework. He stated that the reserve may be managed through a National Bank subsidiary focused on alternative investments. The goal is to establish an institutionally solid reserve with best practices in sovereign Wealth fund management.
Kazakhstan’s legislative framework for governing the reserve remains underdeveloped. The government plans to amend existing laws to formally grant the reserve legal status, which would include establishing clear procedures for deposits and withdrawals. The National Bank is also willing to negotiate on these amendments with the parliament.
As part of the regulatory overhaul, the National Bank is drafting new legislation covering artificial intelligence and digital assets. The legislation would establish criminalization of unauthorized crypto transactions and is expected to limit the distribution of cryptocurrencies to licensed exchanges, especially in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
Kazakhstan is also focusing on discouraging the false advertising of cryptocurrencies. Suleimenov raised his concern against pseudo-business coaches promoting false information about immediate crypto incomes. The government is moving towards implementing more legal frameworks to safeguard the citizens, especially youngsters, against such misinformation.
Kazakhstan Cracks Down on Unlicensed Crypto Transactions
Kazakhstan has already banned crypto transactions involving unlicensed providers. In 2024, the country began blocking transfers to offshore and unregulated platforms. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, authorities stopped around 15,800 illegal transactions totaling $3.07 million.
Kazakhstan’s banks have intensified efforts to monitor cryptocurrency activity. Authorities have started freezing accounts linked to gray market operations, while regulators enforce strict oversight on transaction limits for exchanges operating under the AIFC. Transfers to unlicensed platforms are prohibited, and any transaction exceeding $1,000 is subject to additional scrutiny.
Related: Texas Becomes The Third US State To Legalize Bitcoin Reserve
Licensed cryptocurrency exchanges are also part of the country’s regulatory framework. Binance Kazakhstan and Bybit Limited have an entire regulatory presence. The other such exchanges, ATAIX Eurasia and Whitebit, fall within the regulatory sandbox of the AIFC.
In May, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry revealed its intentions to create a crypto reserve asset. This will be an asset that facilitates storing cryptocurrency state assets and accelerates the digital economy. The reserve will be central to the emerging crypto environment in Kazakhstan.
Suleimenov has warned the people against buying cryptocurrency without adequate knowledge. He pointed out that cryptocurrencies must be viewed as a tool of an experienced investor, rather than a conventional investment such as a bank account.
Kazakhstan is laying the groundwork to dominate the crypto market in the region, as various regulations and legislation are being shaped. The reserve would become the primary stakeholder in the country’s emerging digital economy.
