Kazakhstan’s Crypto Trading Explodes to $6.8 Billion in 2025
- From January to September 2025, $6.8 billion worth of trades took place on regulated platforms.
- The number of users grew from 141,000 in 2024 to more than 192,000 by the third quarter of 2025.
- In the first nine months, more than 50,000 new clients signed up for licensed exchanges.
- AIFC now gives licenses to 29 digital asset providers, 12 of which are exchanges.
- After strict reviews, Green List has 113 approved digital assets.
The cryptocurrency market in Kazakhstan is growing quickly. In the first nine months of 2025, trading on platforms approved by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) rose to $6.8 billion. This jump shows that smart rules are bringing more people into digital money. Officials say it’s a sign that people are starting to trust the market again.
It’s not just about the big numbers that show growth. People who use it every day are also getting involved. Only 141,000 people traded crypto last year under AIFC rules. That number is now over 192,000, with 50,000 new people joining this year alone. It’s a quiet change in how Kazakhs use the Internet to handle money.
The AIFC is both the watchdog and the cheerleader for crypto in Kazakhstan. It has given licenses to 29 companies that deal with digital assets, and 12 of them run full exchanges. People can buy, sell, and trade safely at these places, without the old risks of scams or hacks.
The “Green List” is one important tool. It has 113 digital coins that passed strict tests. Experts look at things like who made the coin, how clear their information is, and whether or not trades can be tracked. A group makes the decision, keeping bad people out. This system protects everyone’s money and lets new ideas grow.
Stablecoins also get a lot of attention. These are real dollars or euros that are backed by real money or goods. AIFC has rules for companies that issue them, such as keeping reserves safe and keeping a close eye on investments. One company is trying this out right now, and companies from Southeast Asia want to join in. They can be linked to major currencies, but they need permission to grow to avoid big risks.
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) gave AIFC a big thumbs up in October 2025. It said that Kazakhstan’s rules fit with all ten of their best tips for dealing with digital assets. That’s high praise, and it puts the country on the map as a leader in safe crypto.
There was a cool test at Astana Finance Days in September. AIFC worked with Bybit, a big exchange, to let people pay fees with stablecoins. In October, the first real payment went through. It’s a small step, but it shows how cryptocurrency can be used in business every day.
Kazakhstan isn’t just trading. The central bank wants to use up to $300 million from its foreign reserves to invest in crypto, skipping the wealth fund to do so more quickly. This comes after raising $1.5 billion for blockchain technology in 2025. The country used to be the best at mining Bitcoin, but it stopped to improve its power grids. Now, it’s making “CryptoCity” to test daily payments and is looking into a digital tenge currency.
Plans from before included a $1 billion national crypto fund made up of stocks and ETFs. The reserves are $110 billion, which means you can make careful bets on tech stocks and crypto tools. The goal is to grow the economy without big ups and downs.
In an interview, Altay Slyamov, the AIFC’s Financial Technologies Director, said, “We’re in an active formation stage, balancing innovation with stability.” His words echo the careful path that lies ahead.
Note: This news was written by our editor, rewritten with the help of AI, and reviewed by our editor to ensure its accuracy and compliance with our standards.
