Skip to content
$BTC$81,454−1.3%$ETH$2,390−1.4%$SOL$104.31−0.9%$XRP$1.30−0.9%$TON$1.780.0%MCap$2.71T−0.9%BTC.D60.2%Fear&Greed55 GreedGas0.20 gwei·1.1 sat/vBNews mood21% bullish
Basis Desk

New from Basis Desk: free Telegram proxies for places where Telegram is blocked or slowed down.Connect in one tap →

Regulation & Policy · 1 min read

AIFC Court Enjoins Six Crypto Exchanges Following Enforcement Actions by AFSA

The Astana Financial Services Authority secured court orders barring BingX, Coinbase, and four other unlicensed platforms from operating or advertising in the financial hub.

Editorial oversight: Julian Mercer, Chief Editor
Bearish

At a glance Court ruling

What happened
The AIFC Court issued injunctions prohibiting six crypto platforms, including Coinbase and BingX, from offering services or apps in the AIFC without a license.
Why it matters
Enforcement requires Google and Apple to enforce geoblocks in Kazakhstan, restricting unlicensed operators while shielding locally supervised firms from unfair competition.
Who is affected
Operators and users of BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase, and WEEX, as well as app store operators Apple and Google.
Takes effect
2026-09-15
What's next
AIFC Court orders will be delivered to Google and Apple to execute geoblocking across their app stores in Kazakhstan.
Primary source
afsa.aifc.kz: AFSA – Astana Financial Services Authority

Key points

  • AIFC Court enjoined BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase, and WEEX from operating or advertising without an AFSA license.
  • Court directives require Apple and Google to geographically restrict access to the non-compliant platforms across their respective app stores.
  • LBank was removed from the injunction on Sept. 18, 2026, after independently cutting off access to Kazakhstan users.

The AIFC Court issued injunctions prohibiting the operators of six unlicensed digital asset platforms from offering, advertising, or distributing services in the Astana International Financial Centre, the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) announced on Oct. 20 1. The judgment restricts operators of BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase, and WEEX from providing crypto-related products or making mobile applications available within the AIFC jurisdiction without formal authorization 1.

The enforcement follows a multi-stage initiative begun in 2025, when AFSA served written warnings to more than 20 digital asset platforms regarding regulatory compliance 1. After non-compliant firms continued operating, the regulator launched legal proceedings in early 2026 1. An initial ruling issued on Sept. 15, 2026, targeted seven entities alongside LBank 1. However, on Sept. 18, the court revised its order to exclude LBank after its operator independently blocked Kazakhstani access 1. Nine other unnamed firms voluntarily removed application store access after proceedings started, prompting AFSA to drop its claims, while seven additional platforms signaled plans to pursue local licenses 1.

App Store Directives and Cross-Agency Oversight

Under the court's mandate, restrictions also apply directly to Apple and Google, requiring the mobile platform operators to geographically block the listed services across the Apple App Store and Google Play in Kazakhstan 1. The court found that unauthorized operations undermine the AIFC's regime and generate unfair competition against compliant venues bearing compliance expenses tied to anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and customer due diligence 1.

The regulatory crackdown mirrors similar efforts internationally, such as when South Korea blocked 27 unregistered crypto platforms to enforce domestic registration requirements. AFSA Chief Executive Officer Evgeniya Bogdanova confirmed that the agency has partnered with the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan since May 2026 to track unlicensed sector activities and safeguard regional market participants 1.

Questions this story raises

Which platforms are subject to the AIFC Court injunction?
The injunctions apply to the operators of BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase, and WEEX.
Why was LBank removed from the court order?
LBank independently took measures to block access to its platform in Kazakhstan, leading the AIFC Court to amend its decision on Sept. 18, 2026.
What obligations do Google and Apple have under this ruling?
The court's decision requires Google and Apple to geographically restrict Kazakhstani user access to the mobile applications of the prohibited platforms.

Sources

  1. [1] AFSA – Astana Financial Services Authority — afsa.aifc.kz, October 20, 2026

Written by Basis Desk's newsroom system from the primary sources above and machine-verified against them before publication. Market figures marked "at the time of writing" come from live exchange data. Report an error: corrections@basisdesk.news · corrections policy.

Community read
How do you read this story for the assets involved? One vote a day, anonymous.
Be the first to vote
Share X Telegram Bluesky Markdown

The Daily Brief, in your inbox at 07:00 ET

Five stories, the numbers that moved, what to watch. Three minutes. No hype, no advice, unsubscribe in one click.

Not financial advice. Basis Desk publishes information, not recommendations. Crypto assets are volatile and you can lose what you invest.