Key Takeaways
- • Bybit Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with AIFC Markets Ltd., the Programme Office of the Astana International Financial Centre's Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP), announced October 14, 2026 via Chainwire.
- • Under the memorandum, qualified digital asset investments made by Programme participants through Bybit Kazakhstan's AFSA-licensed platform will be verified and recognised by the Programme Office.
- • The ITRP allows eligible foreign investors to obtain Kazakhstan tax residency and an investor visa in exchange for investing through AIFC infrastructure; the Programme already recognised in-scope digital asset investments on AFSA-licensed platforms.
- • The arrangement promises automated, secure verification of investments between Bybit Kazakhstan and the Programme Office, according to the announcement.
- • The announcement is a company-issued release; no deal values, investment volumes, or investor counts were disclosed.
Summary
Bybit Kazakhstan has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with AIFC Markets Ltd., the Programme Office of the Astana International Financial Centre's (AIFC) Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP), according to a Chainwire announcement dated October 14, 2026 and carried by Crypto Briefing. Under the memorandum, qualified investments in digital assets made by Programme participants through Bybit Kazakhstan's licensed platform will be verified and recognised by the Programme Office.
The ITRP is an AIFC initiative that allows eligible foreign investors to obtain Kazakhstan tax residency and an investor visa in exchange for investing through AIFC infrastructure. The Programme already recognises in-scope digital asset investments made through Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)-licensed platforms by qualified investors. The release characterises the memorandum as providing a regulated route into the Programme through digital assets, automated and secure verification of investments between Bybit Kazakhstan and the Programme Office, and a combined framework of Kazakhstan tax residency and access to digital asset markets.
Bybit Kazakhstan, an AIFC Participant licensed by AFSA to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility and provide money services in relation to digital assets, said the arrangement gives investors a defined path: open an account on an AFSA-licensed platform, build a digital asset portfolio, and have those holdings recognised within the Programme. Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan, said Kazakhstan is building one of the most consistent regulated environments for digital assets in the region. Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, Chairman of the Management Board of the AIFC Authority, described the change as a significant step in advancing Kazakhstan's investment infrastructure and said it provides further momentum to the development of the digital asset market in Kazakhstan.
The parties intend to explore further joint initiatives within the AIFC ecosystem. The release notes that participation is subject to the Programme's rules and eligibility criteria administered by AIFC Markets Ltd. No minimum investment amounts, aggregate volumes, or participant figures were disclosed in the primary source.
The ITRP is an AIFC initiative that allows eligible foreign investors to obtain Kazakhstan tax residency and an investor visa in exchange for investing through AIFC infrastructure. The Programme already recognises in-scope digital asset investments made through Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)-licensed platforms by qualified investors. The release characterises the memorandum as providing a regulated route into the Programme through digital assets, automated and secure verification of investments between Bybit Kazakhstan and the Programme Office, and a combined framework of Kazakhstan tax residency and access to digital asset markets.
Bybit Kazakhstan, an AIFC Participant licensed by AFSA to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility and provide money services in relation to digital assets, said the arrangement gives investors a defined path: open an account on an AFSA-licensed platform, build a digital asset portfolio, and have those holdings recognised within the Programme. Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan, said Kazakhstan is building one of the most consistent regulated environments for digital assets in the region. Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, Chairman of the Management Board of the AIFC Authority, described the change as a significant step in advancing Kazakhstan's investment infrastructure and said it provides further momentum to the development of the digital asset market in Kazakhstan.
The parties intend to explore further joint initiatives within the AIFC ecosystem. The release notes that participation is subject to the Programme's rules and eligibility criteria administered by AIFC Markets Ltd. No minimum investment amounts, aggregate volumes, or participant figures were disclosed in the primary source.
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