Translated with AI
From September 1, 2025, exchange offices in Kazakhstan will be required to remove electronic exchange rate boards from the streets. This was announced by the Chairman of the National Bank Timur Suleimenov, Fergana.ru reports with reference to Kazinform.
Administrative sanctions are envisaged for violating the new procedure. According to Suleimenov, the fine may be from 3 to 5 monthly calculation indices (from $22.5 to $38).
As Kapital.kz reports, Suleimenov previously stated that dismantling street exchange rate boards is part of the “mental de-dollarization” strategy. According to him, the point is not in physically demolishing the structures, but in removing the boards as an unnecessary visual stimulus associated with constant attention to the dollar exchange rate.
"We have lived through the period when everyone thought it necessary to monitor the dollar exchange rate on every corner. Now this is not necessary," he emphasized.
The National Bank, by a resolution dated June 23, prohibited exchange offices from placing information stands outside their premises – on roofs, external walls of buildings, and also in the form of street structures.
Exceptions will be cases when the exchange office is located in multifunctional buildings and structures (including business centers), in railway station buildings, casinos, inside international airport terminals, on the territory of automobile, sea and river checkpoints across the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In such a case, the board can be moved outside the premises.
The idea that street exchange rate boards could be banned in Kazakhstan was first discussed in March. At that time, the National Bank stated that exchange offices were placing them anywhere – along roads, on building facades, and even next to road signs, interfering with drivers and creating dangerous situations on the roads. Because of this, they proposed changing the rules for placing boards.
In turn, the Association of Exchange Offices of Kazakhstan stated that this initiative violates the rights of entrepreneurs and consumers.
