Kazakhstan adopts crypto mining rules for state reserve

The government of Kazakhstan has approved new regulations linking subsidized electricity access for large-scale cryptocurrency miners to mandatory contributions to a state-run digital asset reserve, a policy set to reshape the economic landscape for an industry that ranks among the world's largest. The strategic digital mining framework, established by Government Resolution No. 638 dated July 18 and set to enter force on August 1, 2026, requires qualifying miners to transfer a portion of the cryptocurrency they produce to the government-supported Astana Hub technology cluster.

Under the new rules, designated "strategic" miners will gain access to electricity quotas at regulated, potentially lower tariffs. In exchange, they must enter into agreements connected to Astana Hub’s autonomous cluster fund and source power from eligible generating companies. The precise percentage of mined assets that must be contributed has not been officially detailed, though some local media reports have cited a figure of 10 percent.

Eligibility for this strategic status sets a notably high bar. Applicants must own a digital mining data center with a minimum capacity of 150 megawatts and use hardware...