Astana, Kazakhstan — October 22, 2026 — Chainwire

Bybit Kazakhstan has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Alatau City Authority, the special management organization responsible for the operation and development of Alatau City under its special legal regime. The memorandum was signed at the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum, held in Astana on October 1–3, and sets out the parties' intention to cooperate on digital asset solutions for the city.

Alatau City is being developed as an emerging smart city with its own legal framework, including dedicated rules governing digital asset activities. The memorandum establishes a framework for dialogue between Bybit Kazakhstan and the City Authority as this environment takes shape, outlining a shared vision for Alatau's next phase of growth as a financial hub and innovation center.

The agreement covers three areas of cooperation:

• Tokenization of real-world assets — exploring models for the issuance, recording, circulation and, where applicable, admission to trading of tokenized assets and instruments.
• Digital asset payments — developing payment solutions for residents, businesses and visitors of Alatau City.
• Cross-border remittances — developing remittance and settlement solutions that use digital assets.

"Alatau City is a rare opportunity to build digital finance into a city from the very start, within a clear legal framework," said Ablaikhan Aubakir, Country Manager at Bybit Kazakhstan. "Tokenization, payments and cross-border settlements are the areas where digital assets can bring the most practical value to people and businesses. We look forward to contributing our experience in regulated digital asset infrastructure as the city's framework develops."

The memorandum builds on Bybit Kazakhstan's existing work developing regulated digital asset infrastructure in Kazakhstan, where the company operates as an AIFC Participant licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA).

Disclaimer: This material is provided for informational purposes only. The Memorandum of Cooperation is a non-binding expression of the parties' intentions and does not constitute a licence, permit, authorization or regulatory approval, or an endorsement of any product or service. Activities described herein are subject to applicable licensing and regulatory requirements. Products and services described may not be available in all jurisdictions. Investors should carefully review applicable terms and assess their individual risk profile before making investment decisions.

About Bybit Kazakhstan (Bybit Limited)

Bybit Kazakhstan is an AIFC Participant licensed by AFSA to operate a Digital Asset Trading Facility and provide Money Services in relation to digital assets. The company develops compliant infrastructure to support institutions and enterprises engaging with digital assets in Kazakhstan. More information is available at www.bybit.kz.

About Alatau City Authority

Alatau City Authority is a special management organization established under the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan to ensure the operation and development of Alatau City within its special legal regime. Additional details can be found at alataucity.kz.

About AFSA

The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) is the independent regulator of financial services and related activities in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). AFSA's mandate is to foster a fair, transparent and efficient financial centre aligned with international standards. Visit www.afsa.kz for more information.