AFSA received first-ever regulatory fee payment in stablecoins
The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) is pleased to announce a milestone in its pilot project – the successful receipt of the first regulatory fee payment in stablecoins pegged to USD. The project enables Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Participants, as well as applicants seeking authorisation or registration in the AIFC, to pay regulatory fees using USD pegged stablecoins.
SkyBridge Digital Finance Ltd., a licensed Digital Asset Service Provider and FinTech Lab Participant in the AIFC paid the first regulatory fees to AFSA in stablecoins under this initiative.
The pilot project, officially launched during Astana Finance Days 2025, introduced an innovative payment framework designed to expand the range of settlement options for AIFC market participants. The pilot represents the first regulatory mechanism of its kind in the region, demonstrating Kazakhstan’s ambition to position the AIFC as a hub for digital finance and innovation while aligning with global trends in stablecoin adoption.
Bybit Limited, the first signatory to the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) with AFSA, facilitated the first stablecoin payment through its role as a Provider.
From now on, AIFC Participants and applicants applying for authorisation or registration within the AIFC will be able to pay regulatory fees to AFSA in stablecoins through verified providers. The list of Providers will be published on the AFSA website.
Under the framework, Digital Asset Service Providers licensed by AFSA to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility or provide Money Services in relation to Digital Assets may join the project as Providers. In this role, they act on behalf of Payers to process stablecoin payments and transfer the equivalent fiat currency to AFSA’s designated bank account. Companies interested in participating as a Provider may contact AFSA via e-mail at finance@afsa.kz.
Evgeniya Bogdanova, Chief Executive Officer of AFSA, said:
“The acceptance of our first fee in stablecoins marks a significant milestone toward a future-oriented financial ecosystem. It highlights AFSA’s commitment to driving innovation and establishing secure, transparent, and adaptive regulatory frameworks that evolve with the pace of global financial transformation.”
Bybit Kazakhstan is honored to collaborate with the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) in enabling the first successful regulatory fee payment through our secure digital asset infrastructure. The inaugural payment, made by SkyBridge Digital Finance Ltd., marks a significant milestone that underscores AFSA’s progressive vision and our shared commitment to fostering compliant, transparent, and innovative payment solutions that strengthen Kazakhstan’s financial ecosystem,” said Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan
“Our team is proud to participate in a milestone that marks the next step in the evolution of global finance. The first regulatory fee paid in USDT sets a precedent comparable in scale to the first payment made with a magnetic stripe card. This achievement strengthens financial inclusivity and opens access to banking for the unbanked,” said Yessengeldy Rakhimbekov, CEO of SkyBridge Digital Finance Ltd.
The stablecoin sector continues to play an increasingly important role in global finance. According to CoinMarketCap Data, as of September 2025, the total market capitalisation of stablecoins reached an all-time high of $307.6 billion, with fiat-backed stablecoins accounting for the majority of trading activity.
SkyBridge Digital Finance Ltd., a licensed Digital Asset Service Provider and FinTech Lab Participant in the AIFC paid the first regulatory fees to AFSA in stablecoins under this initiative.
The pilot project, officially launched during Astana Finance Days 2025, introduced an innovative payment framework designed to expand the range of settlement options for AIFC market participants. The pilot represents the first regulatory mechanism of its kind in the region, demonstrating Kazakhstan’s ambition to position the AIFC as a hub for digital finance and innovation while aligning with global trends in stablecoin adoption.
Bybit Limited, the first signatory to the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) with AFSA, facilitated the first stablecoin payment through its role as a Provider.
From now on, AIFC Participants and applicants applying for authorisation or registration within the AIFC will be able to pay regulatory fees to AFSA in stablecoins through verified providers. The list of Providers will be published on the AFSA website.
Under the framework, Digital Asset Service Providers licensed by AFSA to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility or provide Money Services in relation to Digital Assets may join the project as Providers. In this role, they act on behalf of Payers to process stablecoin payments and transfer the equivalent fiat currency to AFSA’s designated bank account. Companies interested in participating as a Provider may contact AFSA via e-mail at finance@afsa.kz.
Evgeniya Bogdanova, Chief Executive Officer of AFSA, said:
“The acceptance of our first fee in stablecoins marks a significant milestone toward a future-oriented financial ecosystem. It highlights AFSA’s commitment to driving innovation and establishing secure, transparent, and adaptive regulatory frameworks that evolve with the pace of global financial transformation.”
Bybit Kazakhstan is honored to collaborate with the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) in enabling the first successful regulatory fee payment through our secure digital asset infrastructure. The inaugural payment, made by SkyBridge Digital Finance Ltd., marks a significant milestone that underscores AFSA’s progressive vision and our shared commitment to fostering compliant, transparent, and innovative payment solutions that strengthen Kazakhstan’s financial ecosystem,” said Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan
“Our team is proud to participate in a milestone that marks the next step in the evolution of global finance. The first regulatory fee paid in USDT sets a precedent comparable in scale to the first payment made with a magnetic stripe card. This achievement strengthens financial inclusivity and opens access to banking for the unbanked,” said Yessengeldy Rakhimbekov, CEO of SkyBridge Digital Finance Ltd.
The stablecoin sector continues to play an increasingly important role in global finance. According to CoinMarketCap Data, as of September 2025, the total market capitalisation of stablecoins reached an all-time high of $307.6 billion, with fiat-backed stablecoins accounting for the majority of trading activity.