Buying Bitcoin in Kazakhstan: stick to AIFC licensees and deposit tenge directly

In Almaty or Astana, "how do I buy Bitcoin?" has a clearer answer than in most of Central Asia: use an AIFC-licensed exchange and deposit tenge. Kazakhstan has had a Law on Digital Assets since 2023, Binance and Bybit set up regulated local entities here, and the government is building a crypto reserve from confiscated assets and state mining. The other side is just as real: underground cash-out shops and unlicensed platforms are being shut down, and tens of thousands of bank cards have been frozen. This guide explains how to buy crypto in Kazakhstan legally, and which traps to avoid.

01Kazakhstan crypto market passport

02Is crypto legal in Kazakhstan? From the AIFC to the National Bank

Kazakhstan's Law on Digital Assets (No. 193-VII) was passed in February 2023 and took effect on 1 April 2023, splitting digital assets into "secured" and "unsecured". Until 2025, crypto exchanges could operate only inside the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), licensed by the AFSA. Miners had to register, hold licences and sell a rising share of what they mined through AIFC exchanges.

On 17 November 2025, President Tokayev signed amendments on artificial intelligence and digitalisation, in force 60 days after publication (around January 2026). They change four things: licensed crypto exchange activity is allowed outside the AIFC, under licensing and supervision by the National Bank of Kazakhstan; miners no longer have to sell through AIFC platforms; legal entities and sole proprietors may mine; and the ban on issuing unsecured digital assets is lifted. Officials said only about 5% of market participants had been AIFC-compliant. When we checked, the National Bank's secondary rules and the first licensees outside the AIFC were not yet confirmed, so watch the National Bank website for announcements.

Banking-law amendments also bring digital assets into scope, and "crypto banks" offering exchange and custody are under discussion. The ambition is clear: to become a crypto hub between Europe and Asia.

03Best crypto exchanges in Kazakhstan: licensed platforms ranked

Licensing comes first (per the AFSA public register, checked 1 October 2026), followed by tenge deposit options, coin range, app experience and security record.

1. AIFC-licensed · best all-rounder

   Binance KazakhstanBN KZ Technologies · AFSA-A-LA-2024-0028

   Binance's licensed AIFC entity, active since 25 September 2024. Tenge deposits work through Freedom Bank online banking, and the tenge P2P market accepts Kaspi, Halyk and others. It was also the venue for the state Alem Crypto Fund's first purchase. Nobody locally matches its liquidity and coin range.

   • AFSA-licensed
   • KZT via Freedom Bank
   • KZT P2P (Kaspi etc.)
   • App rating 4.8 (global)
   9.0/10

   Official site ↗ Read →
2. Bybit KazakhstanBybit Limited · AFSA-A-LA-2024-0027

   Licensed by the AFSA on the same day as Binance KZ. It reportedly accepts Visa and Mastercard cards from Kazakh banks such as Kaspi, Halyk, Forte and BCC, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, and is described as the first regulated P2P platform in the country.

   • AFSA-licensed
   • Local card deposits
   • Regulated P2P
   • App rating 4.6 (global)
   8.6/10

   Official site ↗ Read →
3. ATAIX EurasiaAFSA-A-LA-2025-0022

   Licensed on 15 October 2025, ATAIX is the only Kazakh-owned operator of the three trading facilities and markets itself as "the first licensed crypto exchange of Kazakhstan". Tenge deposits via local bank cards are reportedly supported. It is smaller and lists fewer coins than the two global giants, but suits people who prefer a homegrown platform.

   • AFSA-licensed
   • Kazakh-owned
   • KZT card deposits
   • Fewer coins
   7.8/10

   Official site ↗
4. International option · card purchases

   CEX.IOFounded 2013 · international

   A long-running international exchange where you can buy crypto with Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with USD, EUR and GBP as fiat currencies. Kazakh residents can sign up, but CEX.IO holds no AFSA or National Bank licence. Kazakh customers are served by its international entity, so local investor protection does not apply.

   • Spot 0.15% / 0.25%
   • Card fee 0.49–4.99% + service charge
   • No KZT deposits
   • Not licensed in Kazakhstan
   7.2/10

   Open account→ Read →

App ratings are from the Google Play US store and reflect the global apps. Check fees on the official sites. How we score: methodology.

Beyond the three trading facilities, the AIFC registers a group of digital asset service providers (DASPs), including Intebix (AFSA-G-LA-2022-0003/0004, which took part in the tenge banking pilot), Bigone Investment and Pyypl Kazakhstan. Press counts put the AIFC at about 27 licensed crypto firms, roughly 12 of them exchanges.

04How to buy crypto with Kaspi and bank cards

Kaspi.kz is Kazakhstan's dominant super-app and bank, and the most common payment method on Binance's and Bybit's tenge P2P markets. Other widely used banks include Halyk, Freedom, Forte, Jusan and BCC. Following the pilot between the AFSA and Kazakh banks, direct card deposits to AIFC-licensed exchanges are now allowed.

1. Register with a licensed entity

   Make sure you are signing up with the local Binance Kazakhstan, Bybit Kazakhstan or ATAIX site, and complete identity verification with Kazakh ID.

2. Choose a tenge deposit method

   Binance KZ supports Freedom Bank online banking; Bybit KZ reportedly accepts local bank cards and Apple / Google Pay. Direct deposits are less hassle than P2P.

3. If you use P2P, stay inside the platform

   On a licensed platform's P2P market, pick merchants with high volume and good ratings, keep all communication on the platform, pay only from an account in your own name, and never transfer outside the platform.

4. Buy and store safely

   Buy Bitcoin or USDT. Small amounts can stay on the platform; for larger balances consider a self-custody wallet. Double-check the network and address before withdrawing.

05Bank crypto cards: Halyk, Forte, Freedom, RBK and Altyn

In June 2025, under a National Bank pilot, five banks (Halyk, Forte, Freedom, RBK and Altyn) launched cards that spend crypto held on Binance and AIFC exchanges. At the time, 11 exchanges were operating under the AIFC.

For ordinary people, that created the first regulated bridge between crypto holdings and everyday spending.

As with international crypto debit cards, spending usually converts crypto into tenge first, so the exchange rate and conversion fee are the main costs. Read the fee schedule before applying. For international options, see our comparison of crypto cards.

06The national crypto reserve and the Alem Crypto Fund

Kazakhstan is one of the few countries openly building a state crypto reserve. According to Bloomberg and other outlets, the target is US$500 million to US$1 billion, funded by confiscated assets and state mining. The first transfer was reported in January 2026, with initial funding of about US$350 million. Some reports say the reserve invests through ETFs and crypto companies rather than holding spot Bitcoin, and accounts differ.

Separately, the Alem Crypto Fund was set up by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, is managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group and is registered in the AIFC. Its first purchase was BNB, bought through Binance Kazakhstan. The government is also promoting Alatau City as a Eurasian crypto hub, with a crypto-payment pilot zone under discussion.

07The crackdown: more than 1,100 illegal services blocked

The Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) keeps blocking the websites of unlicensed exchanges. According to January 2026 reports, more than 1,100 illegal crypto services were blocked in 2025 and 22 shadow exchanges shut down, on top of 3,500+ blocked in earlier waves. Enforcement also broke up 15 groups and 29 illegal cash-out platforms with turnover above KZT 128 billion (about US$251 million), and froze about 20,000 drop cards. One operation in October 2025 closed 130 platforms and seized about US$16.7 million.

Crypto-branded pyramid schemes are among the AFM's most frequent warnings. The red flags are the same as anywhere: fixed high returns, rewards for recruiting others, and requests to transfer privately via Telegram. To check a platform's licence, see our guide to exchange safety and licences.

08Crypto tax in Kazakhstan

The new Tax Code was adopted on 18 July 2025 and is mostly in force from 1 January 2026. Personal income tax is 10% on income up to 8,500 monthly calculation indices (MCI) and 15% above that. Mining income is taxed on receipt, at the number of coins times their value, under valuation rules that also apply from 1 January 2026.

Individual trading gains are generally treated as "other income" for personal income tax, but the declaration rules are still evolving. AIFC participants enjoy tax exemptions until 2066 for certain financial services; those apply to firms, not individual investors. Keep complete trade records and speak to a local tax adviser. For other countries, see our crypto tax guide for Asia.

USDT is especially popular in Kazakhstan, both as a hedge against tenge swings and, reportedly, for cross-border trade with Russia and China; the Khorgos border area hosts many Chinese businesses. Settling cross-border trade in stablecoins touches currency and AML rules, so use licensed channels only. For the neighbouring market, see buying crypto in Kyrgyzstan; for another hub of licensed platforms, see the UAE and Dubai; and every market is in the country overview.

FAQ

Sources

• AFSA public register — Digital Asset Trading Facility operators · checked 1 Oct 2026
• AFSA public register — Digital Asset Service Providers · checked 1 Oct 2026
• Astana Financial Services Authority · checked Oct 2026
• Binance — how to deposit KZT via Freedom Bank online banking · checked Oct 2026
• Interfax — Kazakh banks launch crypto cards · Jun 2025
• PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Kazakhstan individual taxes · checked Oct 2026

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