The Astana Financial Services Authority has issued its first licence for the issuance of a fiat-backed stablecoin, authorising AnchorX.KZ Limited to provide money services in relation to digital assets as the issuer of a fiat stablecoin. The approval was granted under AFSA’s Stablecoin Framework, introduced in January 2024, which allows 1:1 fiat-backed stablecoins pegged to currencies recognised under the framework, including the US dollar, euro, renminbi and Norwegian krone. AnchorX has linked the initiative to future cross-border financial solutions and referenced Kazakhstan’s growing economic ties with China, where bilateral trade reached USD 43.8 billion in 2024.