Binance to Advise on Crypto Strategy as Kazakhstan Looks to Boost Industry

The country known as a bitcoin mining hub is trying to attract more crypto firms and broaden the industry.

AccessTimeIconMay 25, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 3:43 p.m. UTC
Drive the Crypto Policy Conversation Forward
October 24, 2023 • Convene • Washington D.C.Where the industry establishes the digital economy’s legal, regulatory and compliance best practices for the future.Register Now

Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, will help Kazakhstan develop digital assets regulation as the central Asian country looks to develop its crypto industry beyond bitcoin (BTC) mining.

  • Binance will also try to "integrate banking infrastructure within the cryptocurrency market," and help with the country's blockchain strategy, according to a post on its official blog.
  • It will work with the country's digital ministry to make IT park Astana Hub into a regional blockchain hub, the post said.
  • Kazakhstan is one of the world's biggest bitcoin mining powerhouses, but its mining industry has been struggling to deal with electricity shortages. The government has turned to developing its crypto and blockchain industry beyond mining, including attracting new firms to its finance hub, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
  • The central bank also confirmed to CoinDesk a March amendment to a law that allows banks to service crypto exchanges established in the AIFC.
  • The advisory role is a turnaround for Binance, which last year drew ire from regulators around the world. The company has since been beefing up its compliance team and efforts to assuage their concerns.
  • Binance founder and CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao met Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Musin and the president's First Deputy Chief of Staff Timur Suleimenov on Wednesday, according to the post.
  • "Together with CZ, we considered the Binance roadmap in Kazakhstan. We also discussed the potential of creating a blockchain-oriented VC-fund and academy to help local talents from Astana Hub to go global," Tokayev said according to the blog post.


DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.

Eliza Gkritsi

Eliza Gkritsi was CoinDesk's AI/crypto reporter.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.