The AIFC and AIX: Astana's crypto exchanges explained
What the Astana International Financial Centre, the AFSA regulator and the AIX exchange are, how crypto exchanges work there and how this regime differs from a National Bank of Kazakhstan license.
What the AIFC is
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) was launched in 2018 as a financial hub with its own legal system. Disputes go to a separate court, and financial firms are licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA).
Crypto exchanges in the AIFC
The AIFC was among the first in the region to adopt rules for digital asset platforms, which is why international crypto exchanges open their Kazakh entities there. More in the lesson on Binance and Bybit in Kazakhstan.
You can check whether an exchange holds AFSA permission in the regulator's public register. The legal entity name must match the one in the exchange's user agreement.
AIX
Astana International Exchange (AIX) is the AIFC's stock exchange, where shares and bonds are traded. Do not confuse AIX with crypto exchanges: they are different companies and different markets.
AIFC or NBK exchanger
| AIFC crypto exchange | NBK-registry exchanger | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | AFSA | National Bank of Kazakhstan |
| Law | AIFC law | Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
| What it does | Trading between users | Exchanging tenge for crypto at the company's rate |
| Where to check | AFSA register | NBK registry |
For a simple tenge to USDT exchange an exchanger is easier: the rate is known upfront and you can compare them on Cryptokurs. The legal framework is covered in the lesson on the digital assets law.
FAQ
What is the AIFC?
The Astana International Financial Centre is a special zone governed by law based on English common law. Financial firms there are licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA).
What is AIX?
Astana International Exchange is the AIFC's stock exchange. Licensed crypto exchanges and digital asset platforms also operate within the AIFC ecosystem.
How does an AFSA license differ from an NBK license?
AFSA regulates AIFC participants under AIFC law. The National Bank of Kazakhstan licenses digital asset exchange operators under the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan. They are separate registries with separate rules.
Updated October 6, 2026