In 2023, the Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FMA) blocked 980 illegal cryptocurrency exchanges. Additionally, law enforcement agencies initiated nine criminal cases related to illegal trading operations totaling $36.7 million and money laundering.

Among the blocked illegal exchanges were some international platforms. For instance, in September, Kazakhstanis lost access to the Coinbase website, a popular cryptocurrency exchange, without a VPN. This was due to the platform not obtaining a license from the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA). In March, it was also reported that the illegal crypto exchange ABS Change, with a turnover of $34 million, was shut down.

In February, Kazakhstan adopted a law prohibiting the creation and trading of digital assets and restricting the activities of crypto exchanges. Crypto platforms now need to obtain a license to operate in the country. Currently, exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, CaspianEx, Biteeu, ATAIX, Upbit, and Xignal&MT are permitted to operate in Kazakhstan.

Currently, Astana is testing the digital tenge, which is planned to be used alongside cash and non-cash money. The project is being developed by the National Payment Corporation (NPC).