Kazakhstan and Kraken Sign Digital-Finance Cooperation Pact

Kazakhstan’s digital-development ministry said Oct. 27 that it had signed a cooperation memorandum with Kraken covering digital-asset regulation and links between banks and digital-asset markets.

The signing followed a meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Kraken Co-CEO David Ripley at AI & Digital Bridge 2026. The memorandum also lists digital finance, blockchain technology, education and financial literacy as areas of focus, along with cooperation with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).

The agreement spans regulatory work, financial connections, technical expertise and public education. It does not specify projects, funding or a schedule for carrying out the work, and it does not announce a change to Kazakhstan’s rules.

“The signing of the Memorandum with Kraken creates additional opportunities for exchanging international expertise, advancing blockchain technologies, and strengthening Kazakhstan’s position as a regional crypto hub,” Vice Minister Gizzat Baitursynov said.

The cooperation pact is separate from Payward’s licensing process. The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) granted Payward Kazakhstan in-principle approval for a license covering three proposed AIFC activities: a digital-asset trading facility, dealing in investments as principal and agent, and custody of digital assets.

The approval is preliminary and does not authorize Payward Kazakhstan to begin offering those services. AFSA’s authorization process places in-principle approval at step four of six. Applicants must satisfy the conditions attached to the approval before AFSA issues a final license.

The proposed license activities were detailed in earlier coverage. The agreement sets out topics for government cooperation, while the approval concerns a proposed license for regulated services.

Payward has also said Kazakh traders would gain access to its global order books, which the company describes as serving major markets in Europe, the United States and Asia. Payward has not named the products or given a launch date. Co-CEO David Ripley called the preliminary approval a milestone toward the company entering Kazakhstan.