As countries across the world intensify efforts to attract crypto industry players, the authorities of Kazakhstan have launched a pilot program to encourage selected local banks to partner with licensed crypto exchanges.

In a statement, the country’s government said that the exchanges that are registered with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a financial hub based in Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan, are eligible to open accounts with a number of local banks.

Per the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) public register, there is a number of listed companies with "active" licenses, which are operating "an exchange," "a clearing house," "a digital asset trading facility," and/or "providing/arranging custody." These include Bitfinex Securities Ltd., Upbit Eurasia Ltd., Biteeu Eurasia Ltd., ATAIX Eurasia Ltd., Xignal&MT Ltd., and Eurasia Blockchain Fintech Group Limited. The licenses of several more such companies have been "suspended by participant."

As part of its plan to lure crypto-oriented businesses, a special working group has been set up to develop the rules of cooperation between crypto exchanges and Kazakh banks. 

The group includes representatives of the country’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, the central National Bank of Kazakhstan, the Agency for Regulation and Development of Financial Markets, the Agency for Financial Monitoring, the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan, the AFIC, as well as representatives of the banking and digital assets sectors, according to the statement.