Main changes to the financial legislation of Kazakhstan in the 2nd quarter of 2025

Main changes to the legislation of Kazakhstan in the 2nd quarter of 2025

Lawyers of the banking and finance practice of GRATA International are pleased to provide you with a brief overview of the main changes in the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2025 that may affect your business.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them.

In this issue:

1) Amendments to the Banking Law 

2) Amendments to the Law on the Securities Market

3) Amendments to the legislation on currency regulation and currency control

AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKING LAW

• The following amendments were made to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 31 August 1995 No. 2444 "On Banks and Banking Activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan" (the "Banking Law").
• On June 30, 2025, amendments were made to the effect that a non-resident bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan is liable for the obligations of its branch operating in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Also, in the new version of Article 8 of the Banking Law, new types of organizations have been added, in relation to which the ban is lifted or exceptions are specified. In the list of exceptions to the bans on banks and bank holdings, when they can create, acquire shares and shares, new categories of organizations related to IT, platforms, and security have appeared:
  • Organizations (residents and non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan) engaged in the offer and sale of goods, works and services on the electronic trading platform and (or) information and advertising trading platform, and (or) the Internet platform, as well as on the provision of their sites and platforms for use by third parties for the above purposes;
  • Organizations (residents and non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan) engaged in the development, implementation and maintenance of software, equipment and devices in the field of information and communication technologies and (or) systems for working with biometric identification;
  • Organizations (residents and non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan) engaged in the development, maintenance and implementation of software in the field of information security and (or) anti-fraud;
  • Organizations (residents and non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan) engaged in the development and maintenance of software using cloud computing technologies;
  • Organizations (residents and non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan) engaged in activities to ensure information, telecommunication and technological interaction between participants of the technological platform.

Read the full review:

The review was prepared by:

• Marina Kahiani, Partner
• Zarina Kabashova, Senior Associate
• Yasmin Rashidova, Senior Associate