Kazakhstan Court Restricts Coinbase, HTX Apps in Astana Financial Center

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court restricted Coinbase, Huobi Global (HTX) and four other crypto platforms from serving the financial center or users located there, including through related app distribution.

The Sept. 15 default judgment initially covered seven operators. A Sept. 18 order removed LBank, leaving BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase and WEEX under the injunction. The ruling concerns services offered without AIFC authorization. It does not impose a ban across Kazakhstan.

HTX’s sanctions status is separate from the licensing case. The UK designated Huobi Global S.A. on May 26, and EU restrictions on HTX took effect Aug. 23. Outside the AIFC, digital-asset oversight falls to the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

Google LLC and Apple Inc. become bound by the court order upon service. The court did not issue a separate injunction requiring either company to remove the apps nationwide. It deferred further action involving the companies until after dialogue and an opportunity for them to respond.