In 2025, Kazakhstan recorded 140 criminal cases of money laundering — an 84% increase from the previous year, reports infohub.kz.
According to the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM), the rise is due more to enhanced financial intelligence and improved analytical tools than to an actual increase in crime. Researchers at Ranking.kz note that this allows for more effective detection of complex financial schemes.
Fraud remains the primary source of illicit income, accounting for 31% of identified cases. It is followed by financial pyramids (18%), embezzlement or misappropriation of property and illegal business activities (13% each), and organized crime group formation (11%). These five categories collectively account for nearly 86% of all money laundering cases.
The most common methods of laundering money include the use of nominees and shell companies (64%), purchase of movable and immovable property (62%), and banking instruments (24%). Combined schemes are often employed: for instance, funds are first passed through accounts of a controlled company, then used to buy real estate, and after sale the property becomes a formally legal asset.
Alongside traditional methods, cryptocurrencies, investment projects, securities transactions, and gambling are increasingly used. Researchers emphasize that digital assets provide a convenient way to quickly move funds across borders without traditional banking infrastructure.