Kazakhstan has entered the global Bitcoin investment market by launching Central Asia’s first Spot Bitcoin Exchange Sales Fund (ETF).
The Fonte Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (BETF) began trading on Astana International Exchange (AIX) on August 13, 2025, regulating investors access to the world’s largest rare digital products.
The fund is managed by Fonte Capital, a Kazakhstan-based investment company registered with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). This is physically supported by real Bitcoin and uses Bitgo Trust, a US-regulated custodian, to store its assets in facility-grade cold storage.
The launch of BETF is a major milestone for Kazakhstan’s financial markets and the growing digital economy of the region.
“This step contributes to Kazakhstan’s progress as a key regional hub for regulated digital finance.” said Birzhan Astayev, managing director of AIX’s market and products.
“The debut of Kazakhstan’s first spot Bitcoin ETF will open up a new chapter on the development of our capital markets and bring digital assets to the mainstream of the investment industry.”
The ETF is available to both retail and institutional investors and is priced in US dollars. This allows investors to be exposed to Bitcoin price movements without the hassle of private keys or exchanges.
Yerzhan Musin, CEO of Fonte Capital, said the product is designed for safety and accessibility. “We believe our funds will become the desired tool for anyone looking to diversify their portfolios and access new categories of financial products.”
Kazakhstan has become one of the world’s top Bitcoin mining hubs since China banned Bitcoin mining in 2021. The country attracts miners and blockchain companies from all over the world, with abundant coal-driven energy and positive regulations.
The authorities have since regulated the sector by introducing licensing requirements, tax rules and legal frameworks for digital assets.
Based in Astana, AIFC is an economic zone for financial services and is part of China’s belt and road initiative to connect Central Asian markets with global investors.
Now, Kazakhstan has joined the US, Canada and Hong Kong to provide regulated, physically supported Bitcoin investment products.
One of the key features of BETF is custody. BITGO, a US-based regulated digital asset manager, holds Bitcoin in favour of ETFs. The company works with leading US Bitcoin ETF publishers, including ARK Invest and 21Shares.
“Kazakhstan is entering a new era of digital assets.” Bitgo said in a statement. The company protects BETF assets with “safe, US-regulated cold storage” with insurance up to $250 million.
Experts say that Bitgo’s involvement brings reliability to Kazakhstan’s market.
Founded in 2017 and backed by AIFC, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Silk Road Fund and NASDAQ, the AIX trades around $130 million in modest monthly trading compared to the global giant.
Exchanges see BETF as a way to attract new investors and expand its offering.
