The National Bank of Kazakhstan has granted the country’s first operating license to Astana-based cryptocurrency exchange service Pax Finance.
The license allows the company to officially buy, sell, and hold digital assets, as well as establish exchange offices and install crypto ATMs. The exchange service will operate under Kazakhstan’s legislation.
Since May 1, 2026, a licensing system for digital asset market participants has been in place in Kazakhstan. Companies operating in the sector can obtain a license or complete account registration with the National Bank.
Pax Finance was registered on May 20, 2026. Its founders include an economist and author of the Finmentor.kz Telegram channel Arman Batayev; Azat Bekmagambetov, founder of the crypto literacy academy Paxaro Education; and Oryngul Eszhanova, former head of the Atyrau-based manufacturer of sealing and insulation materials Novus Sealing Caspian.
The issuance of the license marks the first time a cryptocurrency exchange service has been officially authorized to operate in Kazakhstan’s regulated digital asset market.
