Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a presidential decree on July 8 regarding "Measures to Stimulate and Develop the Digital Asset Industry," allowing enterprises and government agencies to use stablecoins for cross-border payments; the decree states that researching mechanisms for using crypto assets for payments will open additional import and export channels for Kazakhstan. The law also plans to exempt individuals from personal income tax on crypto transactions.
Four Core Provisions of the Law: Stablecoin Payments, Tax Exemption, Asset Transfers, and Mining Restrictions
According to the presidential decree signed by Tokayev, the main provisions are as follows:
Stablecoin Cross-Border Payment Authorization: Allows enterprises and government agencies to use stablecoins for cross-border payments; the decree indicates that the relevant mechanisms will open additional import and export channels for Kazakhstan.
Personal Crypto Transaction Tax Exemption: Income earned by individuals from cryptocurrency trading through Kazakhstan’s regulatory infrastructure will be exempt from personal income tax.
Voluntary Disclosure and Transfer of Offshore Assets: Creates conditions for voluntary disclosure of digital assets previously held on offshore unregulated platforms, encouraging the transfer of these assets to domestic service providers.
Associated Natural Gas Mining Restrictions: Specifies that associated natural gas (a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons released during oil extraction) can only be used for crypto mining when it is not used to meet national needs.
Drafting Agencies and the Regulatory Role of AIFC
According to the law, the presidential decree was jointly drafted by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (the central bank), and the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). AIFC is a special economic zone in Kazakhstan, and all miners and cryptocurrency companies operating in Kazakhstan must register there.
The AIFC Financial Services Authority (AFSA) is responsible for licensing crypto exchanges; in April 2026, the authority announced that foreign exchanges such as OKX, HTX, Bitget, and MEXC were operating illegally in Kazakhstan and required these companies to obtain AFSA licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which institutions are permitted to use stablecoins for cross-border payments under Kazakhstan’s new law?
According to the law, entities permitted include enterprises and government agencies; the law states that research and implementation of relevant mechanisms will open additional import and export channels for Kazakhstan. Specific implementation details and acceptable stablecoins will be determined by subsequent regulatory rules.
What are the conditions for personal crypto transaction tax exemption in Kazakhstan?
The law states that income earned by individuals from cryptocurrency trading through Kazakhstan’s regulated infrastructure (such as AIFC and other supervised domestic platforms) will be exempt from personal income tax; transactions on offshore unregulated platforms are not covered. Final regulations and scope of exemption will be specified in the official legal texts.
What is the current status of OKX, HTX, Bitget, and MEXC operations in Kazakhstan?
According to reports, in April 2026, Kazakhstan authorities announced that these four foreign exchanges were operating illegally in Kazakhstan and required them to obtain licenses from the AFSA at the Astana International Financial Centre; the progress of each exchange’s license application will be based on official announcements.
