Overview

• AFM deputy chair Kairat Bizhanov said 130 unlicensed platforms tied to money laundering were shut this year and about $16.7 million in digital assets was seized.
• Authorities reported 81 criminal groups processed more than 24 billion tenge (roughly $44 million) through illicit crypto and cash‑out schemes since early 2025.
• New controls require sender IIN verification for bank card top‑ups above 500,000 tenge, with mobile confirmations under consideration and ATM camera footage retention set at a minimum of 180 days.
• The AFM said $642,000 was confiscated from illegal crypto mining operations last week.
• Only AFSA‑licensed exchanges can operate legally, as Kazakhstan tests stablecoin payments for fees, has approved a spot Bitcoin fund, and develops a state‑backed crypto reserve after closing far more exchangers than in 2024.