Points of Focus

• Kazakhstan ties Bitcoin mining incentives to its national crypto reserve.
• Only large-scale miners qualify under the new strategic mining framework starting Aug. 1.
• The policy expands Kazakhstan’s state-backed digital asset strategy beyond mining.

Kazakhstan has approved a new framework that asks large Bitcoin (BTC) miners to help build the country’s national crypto reserve in return for regulated electricity access, deepening its effort to bring Bitcoin mining into a state-backed digital asset framework. The rules, approved under Government Resolution No. 638 on July 18, introduce a category known as strategic digital mining and will take effect on Aug. 1.

Kazakhstan links Bitcoin mining to national crypto reserve

Under the framework, qualifying miners will receive electricity quotas at regulated tariffs after signing agreements with the government-backed Astana Hub. They must also transfer part of their mined digital assets into the country’s strategic reserve mechanism, though the published rules don’t specify the percentage. Some local media outlets have reported a 10% contribution formula, but that figure hasn’t been confirmed in the government resolution itself.

Kazakhstan Introduces Strategic Mining Rules, Expanding State Crypto Reserve Plan

Kazakhstan approved the “Strategic Digital Mining Implementation Rules” on July 18, 2026. Under the rules, strategic digital mining companies can receive electricity quotas at rates capped by the… pic.twitter.com/kbdtgdUTAV

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 23, 2026

The framework is limited to industrial-scale operators. Applicants must own mining data centers with at least 150 megawatts of capacity, deploy mining machines capable of at least 150 terahashes per second per unit, maintain qualified technical staff, operate onsite repair facilities, hold multiple internet service agreements, and remain current on taxes and other mandatory payments before receiving approval.

Bitcoin reserve plan expands Kazakhstan’s crypto strategy

The mining rules follow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s July 7 decree, which outlined a broader plan to expand Kazakhstan’s regulated digital asset industry. The decree called for new payment infrastructure, wider tokenization, stablecoin use in cross-border settlements, and stronger regulatory oversight while creating conditions for a national strategic cryptocurrency reserve.

Kazakhstan already ranks fifth globally by Bitcoin mining activity, according to the Cambridge Digital Mining Industry Report published in April 2025. The framework directs part of participating miners’ output toward a state-backed reserve, linking industrial Bitcoin mining with the government’s long-term digital asset strategy.

The policy also reflects how Kazakhstan’s approach has evolved since the surge of miners that followed China’s 2021 mining ban. Rapid growth strained the country’s electricity grid, prompting tighter regulation in later years. By limiting participation to large operators that meet strict technical and operational standards, the government is combining new mining incentives with tighter regulatory oversight.