Turkmenistan legalizes cryptocurrency mining and trading, but still prohibits its use as a means of payment

The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, signed a decree that officially legalizes cryptocurrency mining and trading. This legislation incorporates virtual assets into civil law and establishes a licensing system for cryptocurrency exchanges regulated by the country's central bank.

Nevertheless, digital currencies are still not regarded as a means of payment, legal tender, or securities in the country. Currently, the internet in Turkmenistan remains under strict government control. As an economy that heavily relies on natural gas exports, this move is seen as a significant shift in its economic policy.