Kazakhstan's Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court of First Instance has barred six cryptocurrency exchanges from operating without licensing. The court issued a default judgment on September 15, 2026, prohibiting Coinbase, BingX, Bitcoin.com, HTX (formerly Huobi Global), BitMart, and WEEX from providing or marketing digital asset services in Kazakhstan or within the AIFC unless they obtain explicit authorization from the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA).
The six platforms are jointly liable for the claimant's legal costs, totaling approximately KZT 2 million. LBank was originally included in the ruling but was removed following a variation order on September 18, 2026.
Nine other crypto platforms preemptively restricted access for Kazakh users, which led regulators to drop claims against them.
Enforcement of Digital Assets Law
The ruling enforces Kazakhstan's 2023 Law on Digital Assets, which permits only AIFC-licensed entities to conduct activities involving unsecured digital assets. Licensed operators such as Binance Kazakhstan and Bybit Kazakhstan currently operate under this framework.
This action marks another regulatory encounter for Coinbase in the country. The exchange previously faced access restrictions in Kazakhstan in 2023 related to regulatory compliance issues.
Impact on Market and Users
Licensed operators stand to capture users migrating from the barred platforms. Traders in Kazakhstan will face reduced exchange options, and users of the six named platforms may experience service restrictions or withdrawal. Those continuing to trade will likely need to transition to licensed venues with associated onboarding and verification requirements.
