ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 14th, 2026 - Bybit Kazakhstan has entered a formal Memorandum of Cooperation with AIFC Markets Ltd., the Programme Office that administers the Astana International Financial Centre's Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP). Under the terms of the memorandum, investments in digital assets made on Bybit Kazakhstan's licensed trading platform by Programme participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be verified and recognised by the Programme Office.
The ITRP is an AIFC initiative that grants eligible foreign investors Kazakhstan tax residency and an investor visa in return for deploying funds through the AIFC's infrastructure. The Programme already recognises qualifying digital asset investments executed on AFSA-licensed platforms by eligible investors; the new memorandum puts Bybit Kazakhstan explicitly into that recognised pathway.
How the arrangement works
According to the memorandum, participants in the ITRP who open accounts with AFSA-licensed digital asset platforms, including Bybit Kazakhstan, can build portfolios of digital assets on those platforms and have qualifying positions verified by the Programme Office. The agreement is designed to streamline verification and recognition of such investments for Programme participants.
- Regulated access to the ITRP via digital assets - Qualified digital asset investments executed on a licensed AIFC platform will provide a regulated route into the Programme.
- Automated verification and transparency - Verification of investments between Bybit Kazakhstan and the Programme Office is structured to be secure and automated.
- Broader investor access - The memorandum aims to combine Kazakhstan tax residency under the AIFC framework with access to digital asset markets on a licensed platform.
Statements from the parties
"Kazakhstan is building one of the most consistent regulated environments for digital assets in the region, and the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme shows how this approach works in practice," said Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan. "This memorandum means that investors who choose Kazakhstan can build their digital asset portfolio on a licensed platform and be confident that these investments are recognised within the AIFC framework. It is another step in connecting our infrastructure with the country’s financial ecosystem."
Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, Chairman of the Management Board of the AIFC Authority, commented: "Introducing digital assets into the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme is a significant step in advancing Kazakhstan’s investment infrastructure. We are consistently expanding the range of instruments available to attract international capital while building a transparent and regulated environment aligned with global trends in digital finance. The updated programme creates new opportunities for investors within the AIFC ecosystem and provides further momentum to the development of the digital asset market in Kazakhstan."
Context and next steps
The memorandum builds on an existing relationship between Bybit Kazakhstan and the AIFC. As an AIFC Participant licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), Bybit Kazakhstan continues to collaborate with AIFC institutions on the development of regulated digital asset infrastructure inside the Centre. The parties have indicated an intention to explore additional joint initiatives within the AIFC ecosystem.
For investors considering participation, the Programme Office will verify qualifying investments made through Bybit Kazakhstan's licensed platform. The AIFC website provides further information on the Investment Tax Residency Programme, and digital asset trading on Bybit.kz is available to users who meet the platform's eligibility requirements.
Practical implications for investors and markets
Under this memorandum, investors who meet Programme eligibility and who place qualifying digital asset investments on Bybit Kazakhstan can expect those positions to be subject to verification by the Programme Office and recognised within the ITRP framework. The mechanism is presented as a streamlined process to integrate licensed digital asset trading with the ITRP's residency and visa benefits.
Bybit Kazakhstan's role as an AFSA-licensed AIFC Participant licensed to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility and provide Money Services in relation to Digital Assets is central to the arrangement. The exchange states that it develops compliant infrastructure to support institutions and enterprises engaging with digital assets in Kazakhstan.
Contact and organisational details
Marketing contact provided: Zholayev Sanzhar, Bybit Kazakhstan, [email protected]
About Bybit Kazakhstan
Bybit Kazakhstan operates as an AIFC Participant licensed by AFSA to run a Digital Asset Trading Facility and offer Money Services related to Digital Assets. The entity is described as developing compliant infrastructure to support institutional and enterprise engagement with digital assets in Kazakhstan. The platform's website is listed as www.bybit.kz.
About the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)
The AIFC is described as an independent jurisdiction that brings investors and business opportunities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia together under a framework that the Centre says is transparent and sustainable, and backed by principles of English Common Law. The AIFC website is given as www.aifc.kz.