Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a law on virtual assets, which legalizes cryptocurrency mining and crypto exchanges. The document will come into force on January 1, 2026, according to the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper.

The law regulates the creation, issuance, storage, and circulation of virtual assets within the country. Cryptocurrencies will not be recognized as a means of payment or currency, but will be subject to civil law.

Mining is permitted in two forms: for individual entrepreneurs and for legal entities. All miners must undergo mandatory state registration with the Central Bank electronically. The certificate is issued indefinitely.

To register, you must have mining equipment, a valid crypto wallet, and ensure compliance with technical and fire safety requirements. Hidden mining using someone else's computing power is strictly prohibited.

Crypto exchanges and virtual asset service providers will operate under licenses from the Central Bank. Opening crypto wallets for clients is only possible after full identification in accordance with anti-money laundering laws.

The document imposes strict restrictions on the use of state symbols in the crypto industry. Miners, virtual asset issuers, and crypto service providers are prohibited from using the words "state," "Turkmenistan," "Turkmen," "Turkmen," or "national" in any form, language, or combination in their names or symbols. This applies to both full and abbreviated versions.

The law also establishes strict requirements for cryptocurrency advertising: it must contain risk warnings, information about the potential for total loss of funds, and the fact that virtual assets are not backed by the state. The use of images of minors in advertising and the portrayal of cryptocurrency transactions as an easy way to get rich are prohibited.

The state is not responsible for the devaluation or loss of virtual assets.