Turkmenistan Legalises Crypto Mining and Exchanges to Boost Economy

Turkmenistan has announced new regulations legalising cryptocurrency mining and the operation of digital asset exchanges as part of broader efforts to diversify its economy beyond hydrocarbons. The move aims to attract investment, foster technological innovation, and formalise activities that previously operated in regulatory limbo. Officials said that clear licensing and oversight frameworks will support transparency and compliance, while industry stakeholders welcomed the shift as a potential catalyst for fintech growth within the Central Asian nation.

Fraudsters in 2025 bilked Americans out of more than $333 million using Bitcoin ATM scams, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI says scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks where users insert cash and send it to a digital wallet  have surged as criminals exploit the speed and irreversibility of these transactions. There are over 45,000 Bitcoin ATMs nationwide that allow cash to be sent abroad quickly, and once money is transferred, recovery is extremely difficult.