Bybit Kazakhstan and Alatau City Authority will study tokenized assets and digital payment options for Kazakhstan’s planned city, opening talks on financial services without creating new regulatory permissions.
The signing took place in Astana during the Oct. 1-3 AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum. Bybit Kazakhstan announced the agreement Oct. 22. The announcement describes a study agenda rather than a specific product or service rollout.
Alatau City is being developed under a special legal regime that includes rules for digital-asset activity. The Alatau City Authority is responsible for managing the city’s operation and development.
One workstream will consider whether real-world assets and financial instruments could be represented as digital tokens, how they might be recorded and transferred, and whether trading could be allowed in particular cases. The parties also plan to examine digital-asset payments for residents, businesses and visitors, alongside remittance and settlement tools that use digital assets.
Ablaikhan Aubakir, Bybit Kazakhstan’s country manager, said the proposed areas could provide practical value for residents and businesses. The announcement names no specific asset or payment platform and sets no timetable for moving from study to service.
The memorandum is nonbinding. It does not approve or endorse a product or service or replace required regulatory approvals. Any future service developed through the talks would still need required permissions and would have to comply with applicable regulations.
The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) register lists Bybit Limited as an Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) participant. Its entry shows active status for digital-asset trading operations and money services related to digital assets.
