Uzbekistan Issues First Official License for Bitcoin Mining in Central Asia
On Feb. 21, 2026 Uzbekistan issued its first formal license for cryptocurrency mining, formally entering Central Asia’s expanding coin-minting landscape. The company awarded the permit said the approval ends months of regulatory uncertainty and pledged to "build the infrastructure of the future," positioning Uzbekistan as a new destination for miners seeking legal clarity and regional diversification.
The move matters because Central Asia has become a major node in global Bitcoin (BTC) mining, and a clear licensing regime can unlock foreign investment, jobs and infrastructure projects. At the same time, regulators and grid operators will need to manage energy use and environmental impact as activity scales. Market watchers will be watching whether other Uzbek licenses follow and if the country can compete with established regional players on cost and stability.