Central Asia fintech news
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Kazakhstan forms unified Financial Ombudsman Service: new institution to launch January 1, 2027
Kazakhstan requires banks and MFIs to survey clients before issuing online loans
AFSA recognizes clearing participation certificates as a qualified investment instrument
Kazakhstan updates AML rules: New biometrics and non-resident risk profile requirements
Kazakhstan approves reporting rules for digital asset issuers
Kazakhstan launches tenge-pegged stablecoin KZTg
Binance to set up regional settlement hub in Kazakhstan
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KASE Proposes Stronger Self-Regulation for Kazakhstan's Stock Market
The exchange presented a concept for a regulatory committee to handle first-line supervision of issuers and trading.
Business Lending Outpaces Retail in Kazakhstan Amid Regulatory Cooling
Entrepreneurs secured 22 trillion tenge over the past year as consumer loan growth steadily slowed..
ARDFM approves criteria for systemic risks and bank viability assessment
New rules define the regulator’s response to deteriorating bank finances and introduce strict controls over non-market transactions..
ARDFM sets separate 5% capital limit for stablecoins in banks
Kazakhstan’s regulator singles out crypto assets in financial instability indicators for the first time, capping their share in capital..
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ARDFM tightens bank state aid return rules: threshold raised from 66% to 100%
The Kazakh regulator has set tiered repayment deadlines based on the aid amount
Halyk Bank willing to run certain services at a loss to drive cross-sales
Kazakhstan’s largest bank is shifting its fee strategy, treating basic operations as an investment in long-term customer relationships and an entry point for selling complex financial instruments.
Kaspi.kz completes acquisition of Rabobank in Turkey: the bank will become the financial base for Hepsiburada
The Kazakhstani fintech holding has officially closed the deal to acquire the Turkish bank. The company needs the license to launch financial services around the Hepsiburada marketplace.
Kazakhstan's National Bank and Ministry of Finance to Issue Tokenized Government Bonds by the End of 2026
The first placement of government securities on the blockchain will test the readiness of local infrastructure to handle complex digital assets.
KMF Bank Raises $10 Million from Turkic Investment Fund for Business Lending
This is the fund’s first deal in the region. The money will go to support small and medium-sized businesses trading with the organization’s member countries.
AIFC Insights Releases First Comparative Review of Capital Markets in Central Asia and Azerbaijan
The analytical division of the AIFC assessed the infrastructure of four countries. The main takeaway: the region is shifting from building basic institutions to competing for liquidity.
ARDFM to Complicate Account Opening for Foreigners in Kazakhstan
The regulator has prepared amendments to financial monitoring rules. Banks will have to request more documents and revise risk assessments for non-residents.
Halyk Bank Fined for Flaws in Financial Monitoring System
The ARDFM’s banking regulation department identified violations in the internal controls of Kazakhstan’s largest bank. The issue concerns procedures, not actual money laundering.
National Bank of Kazakhstan sets July 19 deadline for banks to connect to unified QR
Regulator head Timur Suleimenov confirmed there will be no exceptions, though the question of fines for missing the deadline remains open.
Bank CenterCredit Launches UnionPay QR Payments Abroad and WeChat Pay in China
The Kazakhstani bank has added a feature to its mobile app for scanning Asian payment terminals.
UAE's Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Registers New Subsidiary in Kazakhstan
The UAE investor has established a universal bank, capitalized it with 20 billion tenge, and plans to develop Islamic financing.
Kazakhstan prepares mandatory bank fee to rescue systemically important players
ARDFM and the National Bank have drafted bank crisis resolution rules. The payment to a single treasury account could reach up to 0.2% of a financial institution’s liabilities.