Kazakhstan has approved new rules for strategic digital mining, establishing a regulatory framework that links access to electricity with contributions to the country's national cryptocurrency reserve.

The framework allows qualified digital mining companies to secure electricity quotas at capped tariffs for up to 10 years. In exchange, participating miners must transfer a portion of their mined digital assets to a state-backed reserve structure managed under the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

Mining Incentives Tied to State Crypto Reserve

Kazakhstan approved the Rules for Implementing Strategic Digital Mining, creating a formal mechanism that connects mining electricity access with contributions to the national cryptocurrency reserve.

Under the regulations, eligible digital mining companies may receive long-term electricity quotas at capped rates for as long as 10 years. Participants are required to transfer part of the digital assets they mine to the Astana Hub Autonomous Cluster Fund.

🇰🇿 LATEST: Kazakhstan approves new strategic digital mining rules to help fund its national crypto reserve. pic.twitter.com/MrqVkYf1hh — Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) July 23, 2026

The transferred assets will be placed under the trust management of the National Investment Company, which operates under the National Bank of Kazakhstan. The program is intended to strengthen Kazakhstan's strategic cryptocurrency reserve through regulated mining activity. The approach differs from the model adopted by El Salvador, which has accumulated Bitcoin primarily through direct market purchases and mining revenue without mandating private-sector contributions to a state reserve.

Mining operators seeking to join the program must file applications through Kazakhstan's E-Licensing system. A dedicated committee will assess each application before approval is granted.

Approved applicants must sign an agreement with the Astana Hub Fund within five working days of receiving approval. Before starting operations, they must also complete a power purchase agreement with an eligible electricity generation company.

Kazakhstan's government has not officially disclosed what percentage of mined assets companies will be required to contribute. Local reports, however, indicate that participating miners may transfer part of their production under the new arrangement. The undisclosed contribution rate remains a key variable for operators weighing participation against the cost advantages of capped electricity tariffs.

New Requirements for Strategic Mining Operators

The strategic mining program also introduces higher operational standards for companies seeking long-term electricity access. The requirements are designed to ensure that approved participants operate large-scale, reliable mining facilities.

According to the framework, applicants must own digital mining data centers with capacity of at least 150 megawatts. Mining equipment must also deliver minimum computing power of 150 terahashes per second for each unit. The 150 MW threshold effectively restricts the program to large industrial-scale operations, consistent with Kazakhstan's earlier moves to formalize and consolidate its mining sector after an influx of operators following China's 2021 cryptocurrency mining ban.

Companies must employ qualified technical personnel and maintain repair facilities at their mining sites. They are also required to hold multiple internet service agreements and remain compliant with tax and regulatory obligations.

The new rules are expected to take effect on August 1, 2026. Kazakhstan is already among the world's leading Bitcoin mining destinations, ranking fifth globally in the Cambridge Digital Mining Industry Report published in 2025. The country previously introduced a surcharge on electricity used for crypto mining in 2022, and the new framework represents a shift from taxation toward a structured contribution model tied to reserve-building.

The policy forms part of Kazakhstan's broader digital asset strategy. Earlier initiatives included the launch of the state-backed Alem Crypto Fund and regulated cryptocurrency payment services developed through partnerships with Binance Kazakhstan, as the country continues to build out its regulated digital asset infrastructure.