AIFC Fintech

Name

AIFC Fintech

Legal name

Astana International Financial Centre

Website

https://tech.aifc.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Centre Services

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (5232), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Trade Finance Institutions (BPADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Algorithmic Trading & Execution Platforms (FSAFANAN), Risk, Compliance & Controls for Embedded Finance (KYB/KYC/AML, Fraud, Disputes) (FSAGALAK)

Keywords

• Financial centre services
• Regulatory framework
• Securities exchange
• Business registration
• Professional services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sultan

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Centre Services: AIFC generates revenue through registration fees, authorisation charges, and ongoing service fees for financial and non-financial businesses operating within the centre. Revenue is also derived from professional services, space rental, and ancillary services provided to registered participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AIFC operates as an international financial centre providing a Common Law-based legal and regulatory framework for financial and non-financial businesses to register, obtain authorisation, and operate within a separate jurisdiction in Astana, Kazakhstan. Its core offerings include the Astana International Exchange (AIX) for securities trading, business registration and authorisation services, regulatory oversight via AFSA, dispute resolution through the AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre, and specialised platforms covering aviation finance, carbon trading, junior mining, creative industries, and tokenised real-world assets. Supporting services span the Client Office, Digital Resident programme, ASP Marketplace, securities registrar, academy, expat centre, and office space rental.

Product overview

AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) is a financial centre providing a comprehensive platform for financial and business services in Kazakhstan. The ecosystem consists of the Astana International Exchange (AIX) as the core trading platform, supported by specialised platforms including Aviation Finance Hub, Carbon Platform, Junior Mining Platform, and Creative Industries Platform. Supporting services include Client Office, Digital Resident programme, ASP Marketplace, Securities Registrar, AIFC Academy, Expat Centre, Space Rental, and Sustainability Services. The regulatory infrastructure comprises AFSA (Astana Financial Services Authority), AIFC Court, and the Astana International Arbitration Centre. Business categories cover FinTech, Financial Business, Non-Financial Business, and Professional Services. The centre has registered over 4,500 companies and created 10,000 jobs, with the Astana International Exchange facilitating trading operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Astana International Exchange (AIX) Securities exchange operating within the AIFC financial centre, facilitating trading of financial instruments and assets for listed and authorised participants.
• Digital Resident Digital programme enabling remote establishment and operation of businesses within the AIFC jurisdiction without requiring physical presence in Astana.
• ASP Marketplace Marketplace connecting businesses seeking AIFC participation with ancillary service providers offering consulting, company registration, licensing, and business advisory services.
• Client Office Centralised service hub providing in-person assistance with business setup, registration, and ongoing operational support for AIFC participants.
• Aviation Finance Hub Dedicated platform supporting aviation finance activities and related financial services within the AIFC ecosystem for aviation sector participants.
• Carbon Platform Platform facilitating carbon trading and sustainability-related financial services within the AIFC for environmental markets participants.
• Junior Mining Platform Platform supporting junior mining companies and related financial activities within AIFC for mining sector participants.
• Creative Industries Platform Platform dedicated to supporting creative industries and related financial services within the AIFC ecosystem.
• Investment Tax Residency Programme Programme offering tax residency benefits to qualifying investors and businesses establishing presence within the AIFC jurisdiction.
• Securities Registrar Professional securities registrar services providing maintenance of shareholder registers and securities records within the AIFC regulatory framework.
• Space Rental Commercial office and workspace rental services within AIFC premises for registered participants and tenant businesses.
• Expat Centre Services supporting expatriate professionals and their relocation, immigration, and integration within the AIFC business environment.
• Sustainability Services Advisory and support services for sustainable business practices and ESG compliance for AIFC participants and partner businesses.
• Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) Independent regulatory authority overseeing licensing, supervision, and enforcement of financial services operations within the AIFC jurisdiction.
• Astana International Arbitration Centre International arbitration centre providing dispute resolution services for commercial and financial disputes within the AIFC jurisdiction.
• AIFC Court Specialised court system providing legal adjudication for commercial disputes within the AIFC jurisdiction under Common Law principles.
• Tokenised Real-World Assets Trading Platform (Agricultural Sector)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,500 companies registered and 10,000 jobs created within the AIFC ecosystem

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Henley & PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026International consulting firm Henley & Partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Kazakhstan for the development of a residency by investment programme at the AIFC. This partnership aims to attract high-net-worth individuals and investors to Kazakhstan through the AIFC framework.
• CICC (China International Capital Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026AIFC and CICC signed agreements to expand investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. The partnership facilitates Chinese investment flows into Kazakhstan and Central Asia through the AIFC platform, supporting the broader objective of positioning Kazakhstan as a Eurasian investment hub.
• Samruk KazynacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Samruk Kazyna is Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund managing $82 billion in assets. The partnership involves investment cooperation, with Samruk Kazyna reporting 2024 net profit of $5.3 billion (up 40% year-on-year) and a portfolio growth of 22.5% since 2022, aiming to reach $100 billion in assets under management. The AIFC serves as a key platform for investment activities and diversification initiatives.
• Presight (ADQ Group)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025Presight, an ADQ group company, met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss Kazakhstan's digital transformation including establishing a supercomputer cluster, AI command centre, and $190 million smart city project in Astana. While not a direct AIFC partnership, the initiatives complement AIFC's fintech and digital services ecosystem.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Henley & Partners: Henley & Partners is an investment migration consultancy that partners with governments and financial centres to design residency and citizenship by investment programmes. AIFC's June 2026 MOU with Henley & Partners establishes a direct service partnership and comparable business model in the investment migration/financial centre space.
• Astana International Exchange (AIX): AIX is the operating securities exchange within the AIFC ecosystem. While part of the same centre, it is listed separately as it represents the exchange/infrastructure peer set comparable to other emerging market exchanges (e.g., AIX, BSE India, Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange) that compete for listings.

Broad incumbents

• Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC): DIFC is a leading Middle Eastern financial centre operating an independent regulatory framework, courts, and a financial ecosystem with 5,000+ registered companies. It is the most established comparable financial centre hub to AIFC, both serving as state-backed gateways for cross-border capital between regional and global markets.
• Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM): ADGM is a UAE-based international financial centre with its own independent regulator, common law framework, and court system. It directly competes with AIFC for Eurasian and Middle Eastern capital flows, and the recent Presight/ADQ digital transformation partnership with Kazakhstan signals cross-centre collaboration potential.
• Qatar Financial Centre (QFC): QFC operates a similar state-established financial centre model with independent regulation, tax incentives, and an English common law framework for financial services firms. It targets regional capital allocation and competes with AIFC for international firms seeking Middle East/Central Asia market access.

Regional players

• Mauritius International Financial Centre: Mauritius IFC is a long-established offshore financial centre in the Indian Ocean that targets cross-border investment flows into Africa and Asia. It shares AIFC's positioning as a jurisdiction between major economic blocs, with regulatory frameworks designed to attract international financial services and investment activity.
• Bahrain FinTech Bay: Bahrain FinTech Bay is a fintech-specific ecosystem hub operating under the Bahrain Economic Development Board, offering regulatory sandboxes and innovation programmes for fintech firms. It overlaps with AIFC's fintech business services and competes for emerging market fintech registrations.
• Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA): Labuan FSA operates Malaysia's offshore financial centre with a common law framework, international regulatory standards, and tax incentives for financial services companies. It shares AIFC's model of using regulatory arbitrage and geographic positioning to attract cross-border financial services activity.
• Nairobi International Financial Centre: Kenya's Nairobi International Financial Centre is a government-established financial hub targeting East African capital flows with its own regulatory framework. It is an emerging peer in the same category of state-backed international financial centres seeking to capture regional and pan-African investment activity.

Direct peers

• GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City): GIFT City is India's IFSC, a government-backed international financial services centre with its own regulator, exchange (India INX), and tax incentives for financial and fintech businesses. It is the most direct functional peer to AIFC — both are emerging market state-led financial hubs competing for cross-border capital, fintech registrations, and exchange listings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/techaifckz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AIFC Fintech