Hassan Maishera
Bybit Kazakhstan has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with AIFC Markets Ltd. to streamline the verification of digital asset investments under the Astana International Financial Center’s Investment Tax Residency Program (ITRP).
AIFC Markets Ltd., which serves as the Program Office, will verify and recognize qualifying investments made by program participants through Bybit Kazakhstan’s licensed platform.
In a press release shared with Cryptowisser, the teams said the agreement links the exchange’s services to an existing investment framework that allows eligible foreign investors to obtain Kazakhstan tax residency and an investor visa by investing through AIFC infrastructure.
Agreement Streamlines Recognition of Digital Asset Investments
The ITRP already recognizes qualifying digital asset investments made through platforms licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA). The memorandum is intended to make the verification process more straightforward for participants using Bybit Kazakhstan.
Eligible investors can open an account on an AFSA-licensed platform, build a digital asset portfolio and submit qualifying investments for recognition within the program. Participation remains subject to the program’s eligibility and investment requirements.
Under the agreement, Bybit Kazakhstan and the Program Office expect to introduce automated, secure investment verification. The arrangement aims to simplify information exchange while providing a regulated route for investors seeking to participate through digital assets.
While commenting on this latest development, Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan, stated that,
“Kazakhstan is building one of the most consistent regulated environments for digital assets in the region, and the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Program shows how this approach works in practice. 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 recognized within the AIFC framework. It is another step in connecting our infrastructure with the country’s financial ecosystem.”
The cooperation brings digital asset investing and the tax residency program into a more closely connected framework. For qualifying foreign investors, it offers a way to access digital asset markets while pursuing residency through the AIFC.
Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, Chairman of the Management Board of the AIFC Authority, said that including digital assets supports Kazakhstan’s efforts to broaden the investment instruments available to international participants.
“Introducing digital assets into the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Program 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 program creates new opportunities for investors within the AIFC ecosystem and provides further momentum to the development of the digital asset market in Kazakhstan,” Tleubekov added.
Bybit Kazakhstan Builds on Existing AIFC Cooperation
The memorandum extends Bybit Kazakhstan’s ongoing work with the AIFC and its institutions. The exchange is an AIFC Participant licensed by AFSA and is working with the Center on the development of regulated digital asset infrastructure.
Both parties also intend to explore further joint initiatives within the AIFC ecosystem.
Details of the Investment Tax Residency Program are available on the AIFC website, while eligible users can access Bybit Kazakhstan’s digital asset trading services through Bybit.kz.
Bybit Kazakhstan is an AIFC Participant licensed by AFSA to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility and provide Money Services in relation to Digital Assets. Bybit Kazakhstan develops compliant infrastructure to support institutions and enterprises engaging with digital assets in Kazakhstan.
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors and business meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common Law.
