Coinbase Global, Inc.

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Somewhat Bearish -40

Kazakhstan court bars Coinbase, five others from unlicensed crypto services in Astana International Financial Centre

Crypto regulation AI-generated analysis

🚫 A Kazakhstan court has barred Coinbase from offering unlicensed crypto services within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).

βš–οΈ The injunction specifically prohibits Coinbase from marketing or distributing mobile apps for digital asset services to users located inside the AIFC.

πŸ“… This legal action follows a 2025 enforcement effort by AFSA that included warnings to over 20 crypto platforms before court proceedings began in early 2026.

πŸ›οΈ The ruling applies strictly to the AIFC and its users, distinguishing it from a nationwide ban across Kazakhstan.

πŸ”„ Coinbase is one of six platforms initially named in the order, alongside BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global, BitMart, and WEEX.

⚠️ This marks a continuation of regulatory pressure on Coinbase, which previously faced website restrictions in Kazakhstan in 2023.

πŸ“± App-store operators Google and Apple are bound by the order but were not subject to separate injunctions pending further discussions with AFSA.

πŸ”‡ Coinbase failed to respond within the required period, resulting in a default judgment against the platform.

Risk Factors
  • A Kazakhstan court has issued an injunction barring Coinbase from offering unlicensed services within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
  • The order prohibits Coinbase from marketing or distributing mobile apps for digital asset services to users located inside the AIFC without authorization.
  • Coinbase entered a default judgment after failing to respond to AFSA's enforcement efforts initiated in 2025 and escalated in early 2026.
Full Analysis
A Kazakhstan court has issued injunctions barring Coinbase and five other cryptocurrency exchanges from offering unlicensed services within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The order, secured by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), specifically prohibits these platforms from marketing or distributing mobile apps for digital asset services to users located inside the AIFC without proper authorization. The court ruling applies strictly to the AIFC and its users, distinguishing it from a nationwide ban across Kazakhstan. While LBank was initially named in the proceedings, it was removed from the order after resolving concerns with AFSA by blocking access to its services within the country. The judgment entered by default against the remaining platforms, including Coinbase, following their failure to respond to the regulator's warnings issued earlier in 2026. The Astana Financial Services Authority noted that enforcement efforts began in 2025 with warnings sent to over 20 crypto platforms before escalating to court proceedings. This marks a continuation of regulatory pressure on Coinbase, which previously faced website restrictions in Kazakhstan in 2023 due to alleged violations of local digital asset laws. The case also involves app-store operators Google and Apple, though the court declined separate injunctions against them pending further discussions.