AFSA announces enforcement against six crypto platforms under AIFC court orders

Kazakhstan’s Astana Financial Services Authority said on October 20 that it will enforce court injunctions against six crypto platforms, including Coinbase, for offering services without the required authorization in the Astana International Financial Centre.

The announcement concerns orders issued in September. The court documents place a clear geographical limit on the restrictions: they cover activity within the AIFC and users located there. They do not establish a nationwide ban on the six platforms.

The six operators are BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase and WEEX. LBank was included in the September 15 default judgment but removed by a September 18 variation. AFSA says LBank blocked access to its services in Kazakhstan; the variation records that the operator had taken measures to address the regulator’s concerns.

Why the court narrowed the order

The original lawsuit sought restrictions on services to users across Kazakhstan. Justice Sir Stephen Richards narrowed that request after changes to the country’s digital asset law took effect on May 1.

In the judgment, Richards explained that the revised framework assigns the broader national role to Kazakhstan’s National Bank. AFSA remains responsible for licensing and supervision within the AIFC. The injunction consequently prohibits the named operators from providing, offering or marketing unauthorized services in that jurisdiction, including through mobile applications.

The default judgment followed the operators’ failure to file an acknowledgment of service or a defense within the required time. It was decided without a trial. CoinDesk’s October 20 reporting also identified the AIFC limit and said it had received no responses from the platforms before publication. Cointelegraph separately reported that its requests to BingX, Coinbase and Huobi Global were unanswered.

App stores are part of enforcement

The court directed that Google and Apple receive notice of the order. Upon service, they become bound by it as if they were parties to the claim. Richards declined to issue a separate injunction directing the app stores to take specific actions before they had an opportunity to respond. He said AFSA should first discuss the steps needed to prevent violations with the companies.

AFSA says its campaign began with written warnings to more than 20 platforms in 2025. Nine subsequently restricted app access voluntarily, prompting the regulator to withdraw its claims against them; seven expressed an intention to seek licenses.

Those intentions are distinct from granted licenses. AFSA directs users to its public register to check authorization. Its October 20 announcement describes planned enforcement against the remaining six, without establishing that Google or Apple has already implemented the restrictions.