Kazakhstan Legalizes Crypto, Keeps Tenge as Sole Payment

- New law grants legal recognition to cryptocurrencies while maintaining tenge as exclusive payment currency - Crypto transactions routed through licensed intermediaries under stricter oversight On May 14, 2026, Cryptopolitan reported that Kazakhstan had enacted comprehensive cryptocurrency regulations, effective May 1, 2024. The law officially recognizes digital assets as legal property and allows their use as a funding source; however, it prohibits using cryptocurrencies for direct payments. According to Cryptopolitan, all crypto transactions must be instantly converted into tenge, the national fiat currency, through licensed intermediaries such as regulated exchanges or payment card providers. This move ensures tenge remains the sole legal tender for direct purchases, even as crypto assets gain formal status within the country’s financial system. Under the new regulations, crypto cannot be used to pay directly for goods or services in Kazakhstan, and all transactions involving digital assets require immediate conversion into tenge via approved platforms. Policymakers designed the framework to place most crypto activity under official oversight and to reinforce Kazakhstan’s ambitions to become a regional cryptocurrency hub. As a result, the rules aim to channel the country’s growing crypto sector into compliant and monitored channels and to strengthen the central role of tenge in everyday commerce. Cryptopolitan also reported that, as of May 14, 2026, 18:09 UTC, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $81,575.35, up 2.56% in 24-hour trading volume. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) traded at $2,306.23 with a 2.04% change, and Tether USDt (USDT) maintained a $1.00 price with a 0.007% change, according to the latest market data.