AFSA Announces a Transitional Period for Fund Managers of Non-Exempt Funds
AFSA announces a transitional period under a class modification of Rule 8.2(a) of the AIFC Collective Investment Scheme Rules, allowing Domestic Fund Managers of Non-Exempt Funds (other than Real Estate Investment Trusts) to operate without a separate Fund Administrator until 31 July 2027. The arrangement applies to all Domestic Fund Managers on the same terms, is described as temporary and not to be extended, and AFSA states it will not grant further waivers of the Fund Administrator requirement.
本文中の日付: 2027-03-31 Written notice to AFSA of the proposed Fund Administrator and intended appointment date, for Fund Managers relying on the transitional period · 2027-07-31 End of the transitional period; Fund Manager and Fund Administrator functions must be carried out separately · 2027-08-01 Date by which Non-Exempt Funds must have a separate Fund Administrator appointed
確認しておきたい点
Check whether any Non-Exempt Fund managed by the firm currently lacks a separate Fund Administrator acceptable to AFSA.
Review whether the Fund Prospectus discloses that the Fund Manager performs the Fund Administration function and that a separate Fund Administrator must be appointed by 1 August 2027.
Consider the written notification to AFSA of the proposed Fund Administrator and intended appointment date, due no later than 31 March 2027.
AIFC Court Issues Injunctions Against Operators of Several Unlicensed Crypto Platforms
AFSA reports that the AIFC Court granted its claims on 15 September 2026 and issued injunctions prohibiting the operators of several unlicensed crypto platforms from providing or advertising digital asset-related services within the AIFC without the appropriate licence. Following amendment on 18 September 2026, the injunctions apply to the operators of BingX, Bitcoin.com, Huobi Global (HTX), BitMart, Coinbase and WEEX, and the decision also applies to Google and Apple as app store operators regarding geographic access restrictions.
確認しておきたい点
Check whether your firm's digital asset-related services and marketing are covered by an AFSA licence where required.
Review whether client-facing app distribution arrangements are consistent with AIFC licensing requirements.
AFSA Approves Designation of Clearing Participation Certificates as a Qualified Investment
AFSA has issued a Decision Notice designating Clearing Participation Certificates issued by International Trading System Limited as a Qualified Investment under the AIFC Multilateral and Organised Trading Facilities Rules. The instrument is a standardised collateral instrument backed by a segregated pool of eligible assets, intended to support repo and secured funding through the ITS market infrastructure, and the designation is subject to specific regulatory conditions and limitations.
確認しておきたい点
Review the AFSA Decision Notice to identify the specific regulatory conditions and limitations attached to the designation.
Check whether the firm's collateral or repo activities involving CPCs would fall under the AIFC MOTF Rules and the conditions set out in the notice.
AFSA Enables Testing of Event-Based Contracts in the AIFC FinTech Lab
AFSA has introduced a legal basis for testing Event-Based Contracts within the AIFC FinTech Lab, via a Notice on the Expected Approach to this market. Testing is limited to contracts referencing financial and economic events, may be offered only to Professional Clients and eligible Semi-professional Clients who pass an appropriateness assessment, and must be fully collateralised with no margin or leverage.
確認しておきたい点
Check whether the firm's business model would fall within the permitted financial and economic underlying events and exclude sporting, political, weather and entertainment events.
Review client categorisation and appropriateness processes against the stated eligibility requirements, including the minimum age of 21 for individual clients.
Review market abuse and financial crime systems and controls in case of any planned participation in FinTech Lab testing.
AFSA Holds High-Level Roundtable on Regional Cooperation and Financial Market Integration
AFSA reports on a high-level roundtable held on 9 September 2026 as part of the Astana Finance Days 2026 forum, bringing together regulators, market participants and international institutions from Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The discussion covered barriers to cross-border capital flows, mutual recognition, information sharing, supervisory cooperation and digitalisation. The publication concerns institutional news and sets no binding requirements.
AFSA and Hanfa sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen regulatory cooperation
AFSA, the regulator of the Astana International Financial Centre, and Croatia's Hanfa signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 9 September 2026 during Astana Finance Days 2026 to strengthen regulatory cooperation. The MoU provides a framework for exchanging information and regulatory experience, consultations on matters of mutual interest, and cooperation on financial market regulation and supervision.
AFSA and National Bank of Georgia sign Memorandum of Understanding to advance mutual access to financial markets
AFSA and the National Bank of Georgia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Access and Recognition in Financial Services on 9 September 2026 during Astana Finance Days 2026. The MoU sets a framework for regulatory cooperation aimed at practical mutual access between the AIFC and Georgian financial markets in capital markets and asset management, subject to each jurisdiction's legal requirements.
Saida Djarbolova Appointed to the Board of Directors of AFSA
AFSA announced that Saida Djarbolova joined its Board of Directors as an Independent Non-Executive Director, and as a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. The appointment was approved by the AIFC Governor's Order and took effect on 5 September 2026. The item is institutional news for the regulator and does not set new obligations for supervised entities.