live U.S. starts Iranian port blockade amid ceasefire tensions and Iran warning – Monday 13 April
Donald Trump has warned that any Iranian ships approaching a declared U.S. blockade zone in the Strait of Hormuz will be “immediately elimina...
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow has signed the “On Virtual Assets” law, which will officially legalise cryptocurrency mining and exchange activities in the country from 1 January 2026.
The legislation defines virtual assets as objects of civil rights, while explicitly stating that they are not legal tender or official currency.
This approach reflects Ashgabat’s cautious yet deliberate strategy of embracing new technologies without destabilising the national financial system.
Under the law, both individual entrepreneurs and companies will be permitted to conduct mining operations, provided they register with the Central Bank and comply with safety requirements.
This framework effectively prohibits unauthorised or hidden mining, allowing the state to control cryptocurrency production volumes and mitigate potential risks to the energy infrastructure.
At the same time, crypto exchanges and other virtual asset service providers will operate only under Central Bank licensing, and wallet creation will require full client identification, aligning Turkmenistan with international standards for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
The law also imposes restrictions on the use of terms such as “Turkmenistan,” “state,” or “national” in the names of crypto projects.
Advertising of digital assets must include risk warnings and may not present cryptocurrency operations as guaranteed or easy income.
The government explicitly disclaims responsibility for any potential loss or devaluation of digital assets, reflecting a pragmatic regulatory approach that encourages investors to make informed decisions.
Experts view the new law as part of Turkmenistan’s broader strategy to develop a digital economy and establish a transparent, controlled legal framework for virtual asset technologies.
This move is consistent with global trends towards the legalisation and regulation of cryptocurrencies and digital financial instruments, while maintaining state oversight to protect both citizens and businesses.
Against this backdrop, in mid-November, the international company group INTEGRA CITY presented its digital solutions for “smart” and sustainable cities at the Turkmentel 2025 international exhibition in Ashgabat.
The event highlights Turkmenistan’s efforts to combine technological innovation with regulatory modernisation, opening new opportunities for investment and the integration of advanced solutions into the country’s economy.
Hungarians vote in elections on Sunday that could see the end of hard right nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s more than 15 year rule. Opinion polls show Orbán’s Fidesz party trailing 45-year-old Péter Magyar’s centre-right opposition Tisza party.
U.S. and Iranian negotiators held their highest-level talks in half a century in Pakistan on Saturday in an effort to end their six-week war, as President Donald Trump said the U.S. military had begun the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz.
At least 30 people were killed on Saturday in a stampede at Haiti’s Laferrière Citadel World Heritage Site, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
Israel has reprimanded Spain’s most senior diplomat in Tel Aviv after a giant effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blown up in a Spanish town.
Nine suspects were arrested on Saturday (11 April) in connection with a terror attack targeting a police post in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district.
A French fashion label is placing China at the heart of its global ambitions, choosing Shanghai for its worldwide debut in a move that shows growing confidence in the country’s consumer market and cultural influence.
Walt Disney is planning to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, with many of the reductions expected to affect its marketing division, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plans.
Major automakers showcased new electric vehicles at the New York Auto Show this week, under the slogan “electrification is the future." However, weakening demand in the United States and intense competition with China are raising questions for markets across the globe, including the South Caucasus.
The U.S. national average retail price of petrol rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in over three years on Monday (30 March), according to GasBuddy data, as the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran continued to roil global energy markets.
Japan and Indonesia will deepen coordination on energy security, Tokyo said, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts vital oil and gas flows to Asia.
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