President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Chairman of the Financial Monitoring Agency Zhanat Elimanov, who presented a detailed report on the agency’s key results for 2025 and priorities for the coming period, DKNews.kz reports.
The figures presented during the meeting highlighted the масштаб of Kazakhstan’s efforts to combat the shadow economy, financial crime and illegal cash flows.
More than 1,100 criminal cases completed, KZT 141.5 billion returned
According to Zhanat Elimanov, investigations were completed in 1,135 criminal cases over the past year. As a result, KZT 141.5 billion was returned to victims.
The agency dismantled 15 criminal groups and shut down 29 platforms involved in illegal cash-out schemes, with a total turnover exceeding KZT 128 billion. These networks had been operating for years, channeling large volumes of money outside the legal financial system.
Crackdown on crypto laundering and drop cards
A significant part of the agency’s work focused on crypto-related crimes. In 2025, authorities shut down 22 underground crypto exchange services used to launder proceeds from drug trafficking and fraud.
More than 1,100 illegal online crypto exchange platforms were blocked, along with around 20,000 drop cards linked to the legalization of drug-related доходs.
Thousands of companies cut off from the financial system
President Tokayev was informed that the financial sector had terminated business relations with 2,000 companies and 56,000 individuals suspected of money laundering.
These measures were aimed at reducing risks within the financial system and preventing further circulation of illicit funds.
Budget protection, fuel security and socially sensitive markets
The agency also reported preventing unjustified budget spending on 53 infrastructure projects, saving KZT 264.2 billion in public funds.
Another key case involved stopping a corruption scheme within a commodity exchange, where illegal kickbacks totaling KZT 2 billion were used to manipulate prices. The intervention helped prevent speculative price increases for socially important coal.
In addition, authorities exposed a smuggling operation attempting to export 102,000 tonnes of gasoline abroad, averting a potential fuel shortage inside the country.
Online casinos, subsoil use and illegal mining
The President was briefed on measures taken to protect citizens from involvement in online casinos. Investigations uncovered illegal financial flows totaling KZT 2.1 trillion, facilitated by 35 payment organizations.
The agency also identified cases where 625 land plots were allocated to 437 subsoil users who were not conducting exploration activities. More than 382,000 tonnes of illegally extracted mineral resources were found to have been exported.
Violations in the compulsory health insurance system
Systemic violations were also uncovered in the compulsory health insurance system. Authorities identified artificial inflation of reported medical services amounting to KZT 26 billion.
This included cases where medical care was fraudulently recorded as being provided to deceased individuals.
Presidential instructions
Following the meeting, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued a number of instructions aimed at strengthening the Financial Monitoring Agency’s work, enhancing prevention of financial crimes and increasing protection of citizens from involvement in illegal schemes.
