Catenaa, Saturday, June 28, 2025-Kazakhstan unveiled the Solana Economic Zone Kazakhstan (SEZ KZ), marking Central Asia’s first Web3-focused economic zone, during the 2025 Astana International Forum. Backed by the Solana Foundation, the initiative aims to accelerate blockchain innovation and digital economy growth in the region.
The SEZ KZ, built on the Solana blockchain, will act as a sandbox for pioneering Web3 projects, enabling pilot programs for tokenized assets and supporting local startups seeking global expansion.
Officials highlighted plans to train developers in Rust programming through partnerships with local universities and blockchain hubs.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, emphasized the government’s goal to foster a resilient digital environment and cultivate Web3 talent.
A strategic memorandum signed at the launch includes a pilot to integrate tokenized financial instruments into Kazakhstan’s capital markets alongside the Astana International Exchange, Solana Foundation, and tech firms Jupiter and Intebix.
The government’s broader push toward digital sovereignty includes expanding crypto regulations beyond the Astana International Financial Centre, advancing a digital tenge central bank digital currency, and establishing “CryptoCity,” a pilot zone for real-world crypto payments announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Kazakhstan’s rapid crypto infrastructure growth is notable, with 415,000 mining rigs registered and trading volumes rising from $324 million in 2023 to $1.4 billion in 2024. Regional blockchain adoption is also gaining momentum, with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan joining the movement.
The SEZ KZ launch positions Kazakhstan as a digital innovation hub in Central Asia, leveraging Web3 technology to modernize its economy and attract global blockchain ventures.
