Compliance Champions: Balancing Innovation and Regulation: AFSA’s Approach to Crypto Markets

What does it take to build a globally credible regulatory framework for digital assets without stifling innovation?

In this episode of Compliance Champions, host Delphine Forma sits down with Zhaslan Tuyenbayev, Senior Associate in the Financial Conduct Division at the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), to explore how the Astana International Financial Centre is doing just that.

The two dive into:

• The licensing regime for digital asset service providers in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)
  
  
• Supervision strategies and AFSA’s approach to market integrity, AML, and the Travel Rule
  
  
• Regulation of stablecoins and digital asset derivatives, including retail-focused rules
  
  
• The sandbox environment supporting fintech experimentation and tokenized securities
  
  
• Cross-border activity, reverse solicitation restrictions, and lessons from recent enforcement campaigns
  
  

Whether you’re a founder seeking international licensing or a policymaker shaping local frameworks, Zhaslan offers rare insight into how AFSA is building a trusted and modern compliance perimeter, without sacrificing innovation.

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