Lawyers
Regulatory perimeter, choice of jurisdiction and regime, corporate structure, application package, contracts and internal rules, dialogue with the regulator.
Digital assets · Fintech · Kazakhstan and other jurisdictions
Licensing and launch of crypto businesses, turnkey
We combine legal, financial and technical expertise to launch projects in Kazakhstan and other jurisdictions.
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Finance specialists
Business plan, financial model, regulatory capital and operating funding, financial section of the application, management reporting.
AML/compliance specialists
ML/TF risk assessment, AML/CFT policies, KYC/KYB, sanctions and PEP screening, transaction monitoring, internal control, training and inspection readiness.
Engineers
Technical specification, platform development or adaptation, integrations, KYC/AML tooling, technical readiness for regulatory requirements.
Practice areas
The business models we work with
Sections follow client needs. The same product can require different permits under different regimes.
KZ: NBK licenceAIFC: AFSA licence
Digital asset exchange
Buying, selling and exchanging digital assets for clients: exchange services, online exchangers, in-app exchange.
Learn moreKZ: NBK registrationAIFC: AFSA licence
Trading platforms and exchanges
Venues where clients trade digital assets with each other through the operator's trading system.
Learn moreKZ: classified by modelAIFC: under AFSA rules
Digital asset custody
Safekeeping of client assets and keys; custody infrastructure for exchanges, exchangers and platforms.
Learn moreKZ: classified by modelAIFC: AFSA licence
Brokerage and intermediary services
Executing client orders, agency models, access to foreign venues and liquidity.
Learn moreDFA: NBK registrationMining: licenceNBK special regime
Other digital asset projects
Digital financial assets and tokenisation, digital mining, projects under the NBK special regulatory regime.
Learn moreKZ: NBK registrationAIFC: Money Services
Payment and fintech solutions
Payment services linked to digital assets, e-money, payment apps and infrastructure.
Learn moreScope
What a full launch includes
Six workstreams a licensed business needs. One team delivers them.
Strategy and structure
- business model and target market analysis
- identifying the applicable regulatory regime
- choice of jurisdiction
- corporate structuring
- company registration
- launch roadmap
Licensing and legal preparation
- licensing readiness assessment
- application and supporting documents
- contracts, internal policies and procedures
- AML/KYC and regulatory compliance
- support in dealings with the regulator
- responses to comments and package revisions
Financial preparation
- business plan
- financial model
- launch and operating budget
- forecast of revenue, costs and cash flows
- capital requirement calculation
- financial section of the licence application
- management reporting set-up
Financial preparation is not an audit and does not replace regulated investment advice.
Development and technology
- technical specification
- platform development or adaptation
- white-label implementation
- client area, admin panel and interfaces
- integrations with external services
- KYC/AML tooling
- technical readiness for regulatory requirements
- support and further development
Operational readiness and ongoing support
- operating processes
- allocation of functions and responsibilities
- launch preparation
- support with banking and payment connections
- ongoing legal, financial and technical support
AML/CFT and compliance
- money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment
- AML/CFT policies and procedures
- KYC/KYB, customer and beneficial owner checks
- sanctions screening and PEP procedures
- transaction monitoring and suspicious activity handling
- internal control, staff training, inspection readiness
Turnkey launch
Each workstream can be ordered separately. When you need the whole result, the workstreams are combined into one project with a single plan and one team.
Formats
Four engagement formats
From a one-off assessment to supporting an operating company.
Project assessment and roadmap
Clarity on the regulatory regime, structure, required work and preparation budget.
Learn moreLicensing preparation and support
A prepared business and licence application, with support through the review.
Learn moreFull turnkey launch
Legal, financial and technical work under one launch plan.
Learn moreSupport for an operating business
Legal support, compliance, financial analysis, technical support and development.
Learn moreCost and timing are set after the project assessment.
Jurisdictions
Kazakhstan and international projects
Kazakhstan has two independent regimes. We work with both and do not mix their requirements.
Kazakhstan national regime
Since 1 May 2026, the exchange of unbacked digital assets has been licensed by the National Bank, and trading platform and digital financial asset (DFA) platform operators register with it.
Learn moreAIFC
Digital asset service providers in the AIFC are authorised by AFSA under AIFC rules. AIFC registration and AFSA authorisation are separate procedures.
Learn moreOther jurisdictions
We compare regimes for your model and markets. Foreign-law opinions are prepared with local counsel.
Learn moreNational regime and AIFC compared
| Parameter | Kazakhstan national regime | AIFC |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | National Bank of Kazakhstan; for digital financial assets (except stablecoins) — the ARDFM | Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) |
| Legal basis | Law of Kazakhstan on Digital Assets and NBK regulations | AIFC law, including the AIFC Rules on Digital Asset Activities |
| Exchange | NBK licence for exchange operations with unbacked digital assets | AFSA authorisation (licence for the relevant regulated activities) |
| Trading platform | Registration with the NBK, register of trading platform operators | AFSA licence for operating a digital asset trading facility |
| Digital financial assets | Registration of the DFA platform operator with the NBK | Under AIFC rules; issuing fiat stablecoins requires AFSA authorisation |
| Territory | Kazakhstan outside the AIFC | Astana International Financial Centre |
Process
Project stages
The sequence a full launch follows.
- 01
Project assessment
We review the model, markets and constraints and identify the applicable regime.
- 02
Structure and plan
We choose the jurisdiction and structure and agree the roadmap and budget.
- 03
Parallel preparation
Lawyers, finance specialists and engineers prepare the documents, financial model and platform.
- 04
Licensing
We file the application, support the review and respond to comments.
- 05
Launch preparation
Processes, roles, banking and payment connections, testing.
- 06
Support
Legal, financial and technical support for the operating business.
The sequence depends on the regime. Some work runs in parallel, but regulated activity starts only after the required permits are obtained.
Financial licences
Financial licences and related regimes
Beyond digital assets, we prepare and launch payment, e-money, remittance, banking, investment and Forex/CFD businesses — in Kazakhstan, the AIFC and abroad.
Team
Lawyers, finance, AML/compliance and engineering in one team
A regulator assesses the business as a whole: documents, capital, AML controls and technology. That is why we prepare these parts together.
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Cryptolicense is a practice of Paralex, a firm working in legal consulting, compliance, digital assets and international structures.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Describe your project in a few sentences. We will give you a substantive reply: which questions need answering and where to start.
Discuss your projectDo you guarantee a licence?
No. Decisions on licences, registration and account opening are made by regulators, banks and other organisations. We are responsible for the quality of preparation, documents and support.
How are you different from a law firm that prepares the document set?
A licensed business needs more than documents. The regulator assesses the financial model, capital, processes and technology. Our team prepares all of these parts and keeps them consistent.
Can I order only a financial model or only development?
Yes. Each workstream can be ordered separately. A full project makes sense when documents, finance and technology must fit one plan.
Do you work with foreign jurisdictions?
Yes. We compare regimes and prepare the structure, financial and technical parts. Foreign-law opinions are prepared together with local counsel.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Cost and timing are set after the project assessment. They depend on the regime, the model and what you already have in place.
Do you provide a ready-made platform?
We do not claim to have a proprietary ready-made platform. We prepare the technical specification and develop, adapt or implement white-label solutions for the regime's requirements.
Do you work with financial licences other than crypto?
Yes. We support payment and e-money institutions, money remittance businesses, banks, investment and Forex/CFD firms and currency exchange operators. Each regime is checked against official sources for the chosen jurisdiction before we plan the work.
Do you act as the company's MLRO or compliance officer?
We build the AML/CFT framework, prepare procedures and train the team, and we support the officer appointed by the company. Whether any outsourced support model is permitted depends on the jurisdiction and is agreed separately for each project.
Contact
Tell us about your project
We will review the description and give you a substantive reply: which regime may apply and where to start.
Prefer e-mail? Write to us directly.info@paralex.kz
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