Kazakhstan has positioned itself as a significant hub for cryptocurrency activity in Central Asia, particularly for mining operations attracted by the country’s historically low electricity tariffs and its large energy surplus.
The legal framework for digital assets was substantially updated with the passage of the Law of Kazakhstan on Digital Assets in 2023, which established licensing requirements for exchanges and service providers and created a clearer regulatory basis for crypto activity at the national level.
Within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a separate regulatory and potentially different tax regime may apply to licensed entities.
Capital Gains Tax Rules
Kazakhstan does not operate a standalone Capital Gains Tax regime for crypto assets.
Instead, gains arising from the disposal of cryptocurrency, whether by sale for Kazakhstani Tenge, exchange for another digital asset, or use as payment, are included in the taxpayer’s total income and taxed under the individual income tax provisions of the Tax Code of Kazakhstan.
The applicable individual income tax rate is a flat 10% on taxable income. For corporate entities, business profits from crypto trading or disposal are taxed at the standard corporate income tax rate of 20%.
How the Tax Is Calculated
The gain on a crypto disposal is calculated as the proceeds of disposal minus the documented acquisition cost of the disposed units.
The Tax Code’s general provisions on allowable deductions apply in determining the cost base, meaning that the original acquisition price and any directly attributable transaction costs are deductible. Where the same type of cryptocurrency has been acquired at different prices, the applicable cost allocation method follows the general provisions of the Tax Code, which support the use of average cost or specific identification; specific crypto-only guidance on this point had not been published at the time of writing.
Losses on crypto disposals are treated as negative income in the general tax calculation.
- For individual taxpayers, the extent to which crypto losses may be offset against other income categories depends on the classification of the activity.
- For businesses, losses from digital asset trading are generally deductible against business income in the normal way.
The Law on Digital Assets (2023) and associated implementing regulations provide the foundational framework for how crypto-related income and losses are recognised, though detailed technical guidance from the State Revenue Committee on specific scenarios remains limited.
Record Keeping
Taxpayers are required to maintain records sufficient to substantiate all income and deductions claimed in their tax returns.
For crypto purposes, this includes transaction logs showing the date, type, quantity, and value in Kazakhstani Tenge of each acquisition and disposal. Exchange-issued statements, wallet records, and any documentation evidencing the conversion rate used to express foreign currency or crypto values in Tenge should be retained. The general statutory record-retention period under Kazakhstani tax law is five years.
Income Tax Rules
Individual income tax in Kazakhstan is levied at a flat rate of 10% on all categories of taxable income, including income from employment, business activity, and investment returns. Income derived from crypto trading is taxed at the 10% rate on net profits.
For individuals who receive cryptocurrency as payment for professional services or as employment remuneration, the taxable income is the fair market value of the crypto in Tenge at the date of receipt, assessed under the general income tax provisions.
For corporate entities, income from crypto trading, exchange operation, and related business activities is assessed at the 20% corporate income tax rate. The AIFC jurisdiction may offer different tax treatment for entities licensed within the Astana Financial Centre, and specific AFSA regulatory guidance should be consulted by businesses considering that route.
The Ministry of Finance has indicated that the 2023 digital assets law is intended to improve regulatory clarity and tax compliance in the sector, with the State Revenue Committee responsible for enforcement.
Mining and Staking Treatment
Mining
Kazakhstan’s approach to crypto mining is shaped by the country’s experience of a dramatic surge in mining activity following China’s 2021 crackdown, which placed significant stress on the national electricity grid and motivated the government to introduce specific financial levies.
Licensed crypto mining facilities are required to pay an excise duty on electricity consumed, a measure enacted through a 2021 amendment to the Tax Code of Kazakhstan. The initial excise rate was set at 1 KZT per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed by mining operations, and the rate has subsequently been revised upward. This levy is in addition to, and separate from, income tax on mining revenues.
Mining income itself is treated as business income subject to income tax at the applicable rate: 10% for individual miners and 20% for corporate mining entities.
Licensed mining businesses may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses, including electricity costs (net of the excise levy), hardware depreciation, facility rent, and related operational costs. Subsequent disposal of mined cryptocurrency is a further taxable event, with the gain calculated as proceeds minus the fair market value at the date of receipt (which formed the income tax base on receipt).
Staking
As of 2026, Kazakhstan has not issued specific guidance on the tax treatment of staking income as distinct from mining income.
Staking rewards received by individuals or entities would most likely be treated as taxable income at the point of receipt under general income tax principles, with the taxable amount being the Tenge-equivalent fair market value of the tokens received.
NFT Taxation
Kazakhstan has not issued specific guidance on the tax treatment of non-fungible tokens.
Under the broad definition of digital assets in the Law on Digital Assets (2023), NFTs may fall within the regulatory perimeter, though no specific tax provision targets NFTs as a distinct category. Gains from the disposal of NFTs would likely be treated as income or business profits under the general income tax framework, consistent with the treatment of other digital assets.
Reporting Requirements
Individual taxpayers in Kazakhstan with income from crypto trading or mining are required to file an annual individual income tax declaration with the State Revenue Committee. The declaration must include all sources of taxable income, including digital asset gains, expressed in Kazakhstani Tenge.
- For salaried employees with only employment income subject to withholding, a self-assessment return may not be required, but any additional income from crypto activity will trigger a reporting obligation.
- Corporate entities file a standard corporate income tax return including all relevant business income.
- Mining businesses operating licensed facilities must also comply with the specific reporting requirements associated with the excise duty on electricity consumption, including maintaining records of electricity usage at the mining facility level.
- All licensed crypto exchanges and digital asset service providers are required to register and report to the relevant regulatory authority, creating a source of third-party transaction data accessible to the State Revenue Committee.
As of 2026, Kazakhstan has not published a comprehensive public guide to crypto tax reporting requirements comparable to those issued by tax authorities in Western Europe or the United States. Taxpayers engaged in significant crypto activity are advised to maintain thorough transaction records and seek professional advice to ensure compliance with the most current administrative requirements.
Penalties
Kazakhstan’s general tax penalty framework applies to non-compliance with crypto tax obligations.
Under the Tax Code of Kazakhstan, failure to file a tax return by the due date, failure to pay tax owed, or underreporting of taxable income results in administrative penalties and interest charges. The penalty for late filing is generally a fixed amount per day of delay, and interest on unpaid tax accrues at the statutory rate from the payment due date. Where underreporting is found to be intentional or fraudulent, enhanced penalties may apply, and criminal proceedings may be initiated for significant tax evasion.
The State Revenue Committee has been increasing its monitoring of digital asset transactions, particularly given the scale of mining activity in Kazakhstan and the significant sums involved. Voluntary disclosure of previously unreported crypto income before any formal inquiry is initiated generally results in more favourable treatment, with reduced or eliminated penalties, consistent with the general administrative tax practice in Kazakhstan.
