Bybit Kazakhstan has signed a cooperation agreement with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) that will allow qualifying digital asset investments made through its licensed platform to be verified and recognised under Kazakhstan’s Investment Tax Residency Programme.
Announced on October 14, the memorandum of cooperation was signed with AIFC Markets Ltd., the office responsible for administering the Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP). The agreement establishes a process through which investments made by eligible programme participants using Bybit Kazakhstan can be verified and recognised within the AIFC framework.
The development connects cryptocurrency investing with a government-backed programme designed to attract foreign capital, offering international investors another way to participate in Kazakhstan’s regulated financial ecosystem.
How the investment residency programme works
The AIFC’s Investment Tax Residency Programme allows qualifying foreign investors to obtain Kazakhstan tax residency and an investor visa by making eligible investments through the financial centre’s infrastructure. Digital assets were already included among the investments recognised under the programme, provided they were acquired through platforms licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) and satisfied the relevant eligibility requirements.
The latest agreement formalises Bybit Kazakhstan’s role in that process, enabling qualifying investments made through its platform to be verified directly with the programme administrator. Under the arrangement, eligible participants can open an account with an AFSA-licensed digital asset platform, establish a cryptocurrency portfolio and submit their qualifying investments for recognition under the ITRP.
The memorandum also introduces plans for automated and secure investment verification between Bybit Kazakhstan and the Programme Office, potentially reducing administrative requirements for participating investors. Importantly, the agreement does not mean that simply purchasing cryptocurrency grants tax residency. Applicants must still satisfy the programme’s investment thresholds, eligibility conditions and other applicable requirements.
Bybit expands its role in Kazakhstan’s regulated crypto market
Bybit Kazakhstan operates as an AIFC participant licensed by the AFSA to run a digital asset trading facility and provide money services related to digital assets. The company’s latest agreement builds on its existing relationship with the AIFC and reflects its efforts to connect cryptocurrency trading infrastructure with other components of Kazakhstan’s financial system.
Rather than creating a separate investment residency programme, the memorandum integrates Bybit Kazakhstan into an established initiative administered by the AIFC. Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan, said the agreement would help investors build digital asset portfolios through a licensed platform while ensuring qualifying investments are recognised within the financial centre’s framework. The arrangement also provides another potential use for regulated cryptocurrency platforms beyond conventional trading, particularly where digital assets form part of broader investment and residency planning.
Kazakhstan looks to attract international crypto investors
Kazakhstan has been developing its regulated digital asset sector through the AIFC, which operates under a distinct legal and regulatory framework based on principles of English common law. The financial centre serves as a platform for connecting international investors with opportunities in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region.
By incorporating qualifying digital asset investments into its investment residency framework, Kazakhstan is positioning cryptocurrency as one of several financial instruments that can support foreign capital inflows. Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, Chairman of the Management Board of the AIFC Authority, described the inclusion of digital assets in the programme as an important development for the country’s investment infrastructure.
He said expanding the range of qualifying investment instruments could create additional opportunities for international investors while supporting the development of a transparent and regulated digital asset market. The agreement could also make Kazakhstan more relevant to foreign investors seeking jurisdictions where cryptocurrency investments can be recognised within formal financial and residency arrangements.
However, the practical impact will depend on factors including investor eligibility, the range of qualifying assets and the programme’s requirements. Bybit Kazakhstan and the AIFC have also indicated that they intend to explore additional initiatives within the financial centre’s ecosystem. For now, the memorandum represents another step in bringing regulated cryptocurrency investments into Kazakhstan’s existing financial infrastructure, rather than treating digital assets as a market operating entirely outside traditional investment frameworks.
