Binance Obtains In-principle Approval to Operate With Cryptocurrencies in Kazakhstan

Bitcoin News

Crypto exchange Binance has been granted preliminary approval to offer trading and custody services for digital assets in Kazakhstan. The exchange is yet to complete the full application process but the development has already been hailed as a landmark achievement for the company in the Central Asian nation which only recently took steps to regulate coin trading.

Binance Receives Regulatory Approval From Kazakhstan Authorities

Kazakhstan’s Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), the regulatory body that oversees the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), has issued a temporary license approval to the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, the company unveiled in a blog post published on Monday.

The in-principle approval requires Binance to complete the application process to get the full license, which will allow it to run a digital asset trading facility and provide digital asset custody services on the AIFC’s platform, the announcement noted.

The move comes after this spring, Kazakhstan’s financial watchdog launched a pilot project to establish and develop cryptocurrency exchanges in the country. Then, in June, the authorities in Nur-Sultan allowed AIFC-registered platforms to open accounts with local banks.

“Kazakhstan has shown itself to be a pioneer in Central Asian crypto adoption and regulation,” Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao has been quoted as saying. “This further signifies Binance’s commitment to being a compliance-first exchange and providing products and services in a safe and well-regulated environment across the globe,” the crypto entrepreneur added.

Gleb Kostarev, regional head at Binance, described the development as a “landmark achievement” for Binance in Kazakhstan. “We are grateful to the Astana International Financial Center for their support and vision in granting Binance Kazakhstan this in-principle license approval,” he emphasized.

Kazakhstan attracted a significant number of crypto mining enterprises after China cracked down on the industry in May 2021. However, critics have insisted that the business brings little benefit to the country’s economy as it doesn’t create many jobs, exacerbates a growing power deficit, pays little tax, and transfers its profits abroad.

As a result, the government has taken steps to shut down illegal mining farms, expand registration requirements for crypto miners, increase a surcharge for the electricity consumed to mint digital currencies, and provide options for mining companies to exchange their cryptocurrencies on domestic platforms.

“Large investors seeking new markets need clear-cut and well-managed rules, as well as high standards of regulatory practice. When a regulator meets these requirements, it creates collaboration based on trust and an ecosystem where players can work safely and efficiently,” commented Nurkhat Kushimov, the chief executive of AFSA. “We believe that Binance’s work will further develop this vibrant ecosystem of the digital asset industry locally and regionally,” he elaborated.

Tags in this story
AFSA, AIFC, approval, Binance, Crypto, crypto exchange, crypto mining, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, custody, Exchange, Kazakhstan, License, mining, Regulations, rules, Services

Do you expect Kazakhstan to license Binance and other cryptocurrency exchanges in the near future? Tell us in the comments section below.

Lubomir Tassev

Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens’s quote: “Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.” Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration.




Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Read disclaimer

Articles You May Like

Crypto Capo Returns After 2 Months To Predict Ethereum Decline To $1,800, Is It Time To Go Long?
Is Crypto Losing Steam? Bitcoin And Ethereum Addresses Shrink In 2024
Ripple Vs. SEC Battle Rages On: CEO Fires Back At Regulator For Appealing Court’s Decision
Ripple Receives License To Offer Payments Direct Service In The UAE
Ethereum: 108,000 ETH Sent To Crypto Exchanges, Will Price Revisit $2,200?