Coinbase Among Six Platforms Facing Kazakhstan AIFC Restrictions

A court in Kazakhstan has barred Coinbase and five other crypto platforms from providing digital-asset services without the required authorization within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), following enforcement proceedings brought by the financial regulator.

The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)said the AIFC Court issued its judgment and injunctions on September 15 against the operators of Coinbase, BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart and WEEX. The order prohibits them from providing, offering or advertising digital-asset services within the financial center without an appropriate license. It also covers the distribution of mobile applications used to provide those services.

The restrictions are limited to the AIFC and do not constitute a nationwide ban on the platforms across Kazakhstan. The court initially included LBank, but removed it from the order on September 18 after the platform’s operator independently blocked access to its services in Kazakhstan.

Google and Apple Also Face Access Restrictions

The court’s decision also concerns Google and Apple in their capacity as app-store operators, with the order addressing geographical restrictions on access to the named platforms. The regulator said the relevant court orders would be sent to the operators of Google Play and the Apple App Store.

AFSA said its enforcement efforts began in 2025, when it issued warnings to more than 20 crypto platforms about the AIFC’s regulatory requirements. In early 2026, it initiated court proceedings against platforms that continued to operate without the necessary authorization.

According to the regulator, nine platforms voluntarily restricted access to their applications in Kazakhstan, prompting AFSA to withdraw its claims against them. Seven others expressed an intention to seek authorization to operate digital-asset trading facilities.

Licensing Rules Define the AIFC Market

The AIFC operates under its own regulatory framework, administered by AFSA, and firms must obtain the appropriate authorization to conduct regulated digital-asset activities within the center.

The case reflects a wider focus on licensing compliance across financial hubs. In Dubai, for example, VARA issued an alert against MEXC over potentially unlicensed activity, highlighting the importance of obtaining the required authorization before offering regulated crypto services in a specific market.

AFSA has warned that users of unlicensed platforms may lack protections associated with regulated providers, including requirements covering asset safeguarding, information disclosure, complaints handling and dispute resolution.

The court action underscores the distinction between a platform’s international presence and its authorization to serve users in a specific jurisdiction. For crypto firms seeking access to Kazakhstan’s financial center, the relevant license and the geographic scope of their services remain important compliance considerations.