Kazakhstan to Strengthen National Crypto Reserves with Confiscated Bitcoin

Highlights:

• Kazakhstan wants to expand its crypto reserves with confiscated digital assets.
• The reserve project will be under the control of Kazakhstan’s  National Investment Corporation (NIC).
• Kazakhstan has already mapped out $350 million from its gold and foreign currency reserves to fund the project.  

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has announced new plans for a special national cryptocurrency reserve. According to sources familiar with the development, Kazakhstan’s  National Investment Corporation (NIC), which operates under the national bank, will handle the project. 

Notably, the central bank has already moved $350 million from its gold and foreign currency holdings into the project. These funds have already been placed in a separate account at the country’s Central Securities Depository. For now, the NIC will not buy cryptocurrencies directly. Instead, it will invest through established crypto hedge funds. 

During the bank’s annual business review event, officials confirmed that they are currently reviewing five hedge funds. They also noted that over time, Kazakhstan will adopt a new approach, which entails taking ownership stakes in venture capital funds focused on crypto projects.

Confiscated Cryptocurrencies to be Included in the Reserve

Also speaking at the business review event, Timur Suleimenov, Chairman of the National Bank, highlighted a unique angle to the reserve plan. According to him, the reserve will not rely only on the bank’s official funds. Seized cryptocurrencies from law enforcement investigations will also be included as a source of the NIC’s crypto investment options.  

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan’s President, also spoke about the initiative. He noted the central bank may already hold up to $5 million in crypto for the project. In addition, the country’s police have shut down 130 illegal crypto exchanges and recovered about $124 million. Tokayev also spoke on the rising rate of crypto-related crimes in the country. 

He stated:

Kazakhstan’s Push to Strengthen Its National Crypto Reserve Continues

In November 2025, Kazakhstan announced plans to roll out a national cryptocurrency reserve, valued between $500 million and $1 billion. The reserve will use confiscated cryptocurrencies and repatriated digital assets to fund its initial growth. The project will also include revenues from state-run crypto mining operations in its funding.

The central bank will not have direct exposure to volatile assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies. Instead, exposure will come through regulated financial instruments, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and equities of crypto-focused companies. Timur Suleimenov, the central bank governor, noted that the bank will capitalize on digital assets exposure without the risks of having direct custody. 

In related news, Kazakhstan launched its first government-backed crypto reserve, starting with Binance Coin (BNB) in September 2025. Named Alem Crypto Fund, the reserve was announced by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. Qazaqstan Venture is managing it under the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).