- Turkmenistan has officially legalized crypto trading and mining under a new legislation.
- The country has a notable energy surplus that may help attract global miners and crypto exchanges.
- The country is among the top regional and global markets to legalize crypto, a plus for 2026 bullish sentiments.
Turkmenistan is officially using its 2025 crypto legal framework in 2026. Beginning Thursday, January 1, 2026, Turkmenistan formally adopted its new legislation on the crypto industry, dubbed ‘Law on Virtual Assets’.
Turkmenistan Signals Structured Crypto-Adoption
The new crypto legislation, signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in November 2025, will establish a structured crypto licensing scheme that is overseen by the country’s central bank. As such, Turkmenistan joins a rising number of countries globally that have legalized the crypto market.
A Win for the Global Crypto Mining Industry in 2026
Under the new Law on Virtual Assets, Turkmenistan has legalized crypto mining operations. As such, global and local crypto miners can begin to purchase the surplus electricity produced in the landlocked country, which heavily relies on natural gas export to China.
Established global crypto mining companies can benefit from the substantial energy available for export. According to a recent report from UNECE, Turkmenistan exports around 30% of its electricity produced annually.
Licensed crypto miners in Turkmenistan will help grow the country’s economy, which has been under tight leadership since its independence from Russia.
Exchanges Further Weaved Into the Global Economic System
Under the new crypto legislation in Turkmenistan, crypto exchanges can be licensed to operate under the oversight of the country’s central bank. Turkmenistan will help steer forward the crypto adoption agenda in the region and globally. With a population of around 7 million, Turkmenistan will vet crypto exchanges for licensing, thereby further stabilizing the global crypto market.
Moreover, crypto exchanges will periodically report directly to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance and Economy to maintain the set legal standards. As such, crypto exchanges are well-positioned to grow in 2026 legally through Turkmenistan, a major bullish indicator after a bearish 2025 for the wider crypto space led by Bitcoin.
What’s Next?
Turkmenistan has made a huge leap to incorporate the trillion-dollar crypto industry to remain globally competitive. Furthermore, other nations in the wider Asian market, led by India and Pakistan, are at the forefront of global crypto adoption, according to a 2025 report from Chainalysis.
As such, the Turkmenistan government will have to move quickly forward to provide further crypto legal clarity. Moreover, the country has not issued legal guidance on whether it recognizes crypto as a means of payment, a security asset, or legal tender.
Related: Turkmenistan Legalizes Crypto Mining but Bans Use for Payments
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