On 1 January 2026, the law ‘On Virtual Assets’ came into force in Turkmenistan, legalising the crypto market and establishing requirements for mining and trading digital assets. This was reported by the news website Asmannews.

Regulation is entrusted to the Central Bank, which is responsible for licensing and operating rules. Financial transparency is monitored by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, while technical issues — internet stability and electricity consumption — are overseen by the relevant departments.

Mining is recognised as a type of entrepreneurial activity: to operate legally, it is necessary to register with the regulator, comply with energy consumption standards and use certified equipment. Crypto assets have been granted the status of civil rights objects, but cannot be used instead of the manat in settlements.

Citizens are only allowed to mine through individual entrepreneurs with mandatory income declaration, and the state is not liable for any losses. Foreign investors are provided with legal protection, access to licensed exchanges, and clear rules within the framework of FATF standards.

The key provisions of the law prohibit illegal mining, require income to be declared, and open the market to foreign players, subject to compliance with data security and localisation requirements.