Kyrgyzstan Cracks Down on Crypto-Related Crimes Amid Sanctions

Kyrgyzstan's Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov announced that the country's police have opened over 90 criminal cases involving cryptocurrency since January 2026.

The number of crypto-related investigations has increased as virtual assets gain popularity in Kyrgyzstan, with the country facing Western sanctions for allegedly helping Russia evade financial restrictions through its banks and crypto platforms.

Niyazbekov made this statement at a state blockchain council meeting on September 5. No specific details were provided about the cases or the alleged crimes involving cryptocurrency.