Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most isolated nations, officially legalized mining and exchanging cryptocurrency on Thursday in a major shift for the country’s tightly controlled, gas-dependent economy. Signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the legislation regulating virtual assets brings cryptocurrencies under civil law and establishes a licensing scheme for cryptocurrency exchanges overseen by the country’s central bank. However, digital currencies will still not be recognized as a means of payment, currency, or security. Turkmenistan’s internet also remains tightly regulated and controlled by the government. ... (full story)