BTC $67,431.00 (-1.69%)
ETH $1,944.36 (-2.29%)
XRP $1.39 (-3.97%)
BNB $612.36 (-2.41%)
SOL $83.32 (-3.54%)
TRX $0.29 (+0.56%)
DOGE $0.10 (-4.48%)
BCH $566.27 (+0.12%)
ADA $0.27 (-3.83%)
LEO $8.20 (-1.58%)
HYPE $28.76 (-4.04%)
LINK $8.64 (-3.39%)
CC $0.16 (-0.24%)
XMR $324.54 (-1.06%)
XLM $0.16 (-5.00%)
RAIN $0.01 (+1.04%)
HBAR $0.10 (-3.05%)
LTC $53.21 (-3.72%)
ZEC $242.67 (-6.66%)
AVAX $8.82 (-4.95%)

Kazakhstan vs United States

Crypto regulation comparison

← Back to map | Kazakhstan | United States
Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan

United States

United States

Legal
Legal

Kazakhstan has a dual approach to crypto regulation. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) operates as a regulated sandbox where licensed crypto exchanges can operate under AFSA supervision. Outside the AIFC, crypto regulation is more restrictive. Kazakhstan became a major mining hub after China's ban but has since tightened mining regulations.

The United States has the world's most complex crypto regulatory landscape, with overlapping federal and state jurisdictions. The SEC regulates crypto securities and has pursued enforcement actions against exchanges and token issuers. The CFTC oversees crypto derivatives and considers Bitcoin a commodity. FinCEN applies BSA requirements to crypto exchanges as money service businesses. The IRS taxes crypto as property: short-term gains at income tax rates (10-37%), long-term gains at 0-20%. New 1099-DA broker reporting rules take effect from 2025. Multiple states have their own requirements, with New York's BitLicense being the most stringent.

Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Type Capital gains
Tax Rate 10%
Tax Rate 0-37%
Exchanges Yes Yes
Exchanges Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Mining Yes Yes
Regulator AFSA (Astana Financial Services Authority), NBK (National Bank of Kazakhstan)
Regulator SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OCC, IRS, State regulators
Stablecoin Rules AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) has its own framework for digital assets including stablecoins
Stablecoin Rules Stablecoin legislation actively being developed in Congress; existing oversight by SEC, CFTC, state regulators
Key Points
  • AIFC provides a regulatory sandbox for licensed crypto exchanges and businesses
  • Mining is legal and licensed, with a specific tax on electricity consumption for miners
  • Kazakhstan became the world's second-largest Bitcoin mining country after China's 2021 ban
  • 2022 mining crackdown introduced stricter licensing and energy consumption taxes
  • Outside AIFC, domestic crypto payments and exchanges face greater restrictions
Key Points
  • SEC regulates crypto as securities under Howey test; major enforcement actions (Ripple, Coinbase, Binance)
  • CFTC classifies Bitcoin and Ether as commodities; oversees derivatives markets
  • IRS treats crypto as property: short-term gains taxed at 10-37%, long-term (1yr+) at 0-20%
  • FinCEN requires exchanges to register as MSBs and comply with BSA/AML requirements
  • 1099-DA broker reporting for centralized exchanges effective from tax year 2025
Sources
Sources