(28 January 2026 | Source: press service of Akorda)
At a meeting at the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the current approaches to combating financial crimes and the shadow economy do not deliver a sustainable, systemic result. He emphasised that certain practices cause direct damage to the economy and undermine trust in state institutions.
PRESSURE ON BUSINESS AND THE AFM'S WORK
The President called for a review of the AFM's methods of interaction with entrepreneurs, noting that unlawful interference with business is tantamount to a crime against state interests. According to him, based on the results of 2025, nearly 40% of criminal cases investigated by the agency were dismissed on exonerating grounds — out of 2,710 cases, 1,061 were closed.
Tokayev stressed that restrictive measures against businesses should only be applied in exceptional cases and be proportionate to the violations.
FINANCIAL PYRAMIDS AND FRAUD
The Head of State stated the need for new approaches to countering financial pyramids. In 2025, the AFM investigated more than 140 criminal cases, shut down 15,000 websites and 123 chat groups with an audience of over 500,000 people; however, according to the Head of State, the measures taken so far have not turned the situation around.
The President instructed that the possibility of introducing criminal liability for participants in pyramids who knowingly involve citizens in fraudulent schemes be explored, noting that without radical solutions the fight would resemble "tilting at windmills".
CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that attempts to move capital abroad through cryptocurrency schemes continue. More than 130 illegal crypto exchange offices with a turnover of over 62 billion tenge have already been liquidated, and assets worth 2.6 billion tenge have been seized, yet advertising for such services still appears on social media.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND STRENGTHENING THE AFM
Separately, Tokayev drew attention to the side effects of excessive reliance on artificial intelligence, emphasising that digital tools should not replace personal responsibility and professional skills.
The President reported that to improve the AFM's effectiveness, its staffing has been strengthened, its material and technical base expanded, and the introduction of additional management positions may be considered.
He also noted that Kazakhstan had successfully passed the inspection by the Financial Action Task Force (Financial Action Task Force, FATF) and had strengthened international cooperation in the field of financial monitoring.