The National Bank announces that, starting 1 May 2026, a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the circulation of digital assets will come into force in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The relevant legislative amendments are reflected in the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Digital Assets in the Republic of Kazakhstan.” As a result, a comprehensive legal regime for the circulation of digital assets has been established, ensuring their operation within a regulated environment.

The following types of digital assets have been identified under the new regulation: 

1) unsecured digital assets (cryptoassets).
2) digital financial assets (DFAs), including: 
- stablecoins backed by money; 
- tokenized real assets; 
- digital forms of traditional financial instruments. 

DFAs represent a new class of investment instruments that expand opportunities for capital raising and broaden investor access to various types of assets.

At the same time, the regulated perimeter for the circulation of unbacked digital assets is being expanded. Their circulation will be facilitated through licensed digital asset service providers, ensuring transparency of transactions and effective state oversight.

The regulatory framework also introduces the institution of digital asset service providers, which ensure the functioning of the market. These include:

1) operators of digital financial asset platforms – responsible for issuing DFAs in digital (tokenized) form, as well as handling and accounting of rights when making transactions with DFAs;
2) operators of digital asset trading platforms – responsible for organizing and conducting trading in DFAs and unbacked digital assets (crypto exchanges);
3) operators of exchanges of unbacked digital assets – responsible for transactions involving the purchase and sale of unbacked digital assets (crypto exchange services).

These providers also ensure the opening and servicing of digital asset wallets and facilitate user transactions within a regulated environment.

Starting from 1 May 2026, licensing of unsecured digital asset exchange operators as well as the registration of operators of digital asset trading platforms and digital financial asset platforms will be carried out through the submission of the relevant documentation to the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The list of requirements and necessary documents is available on the official website of the National Bank.

The National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan carries out the licensing, regulation, and supervision of the circulation of digital assets, as well as oversight of the activities of digital asset service providers operating within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Kazakhstan outside the territory of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).

Regulation of turnover of digital financial assets (with the exception of stablecoins) is carried out by the The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.

The AIFC continues to regulate organizations operating with digital assets within their own jurisdiction and legal regime.

For more details mass media can contact:
8 (7172) 77–52–10
e-mail: press@nationalbank.kz 
www.nationalbank.kz