Tether signs MoU with Kazakhstan central bank and Alatau City authority

Tether said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Alatau City Authority to explore stablecoin use cases, asset tokenization and decentralized finance, according to the company’s 7 October 2026 statement.

Evidence and context

Under the MoU, the parties said they will study models for stablecoin issuance, define possible use cases and prepare a concept and pilot proposal for a stablecoin pegged to the tenge, Kazakhstan’s national currency. Tether also said the agreement covers development of an asset tokenization framework in Kazakhstan, including potential use of its Hadron tokenization platform, with a pilot project to be launched within the jurisdiction of Alatau city.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan is the central bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, while the Alatau City Authority is the specialized state administrative body responsible for public administration and regulatory development in the city under its special legal regime, Tether said. The company said Alatau was established as a hub for digital innovation and financial technology in Central Asia.

The parties also plan educational workshops, seminars and training programs focused on the international stablecoin and digital asset market, reserve management models and tokenization of real-world assets using distributed ledger technology. Tether said the efforts are intended to support the professional development of NBK specialists and relevant government agencies.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said in the statement that Kazakhstan is taking a deliberate, forward-looking approach by exploring asset tokenization and a strategic reserve framework. Binur Zhalenov, deputy governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said the central bank intends to study international best practices in stablecoin issuance and real-world asset tokenization while prioritizing financial stability, transaction transparency and investor protection.

The announcement did not include a timetable for the pilot, funding details or any regulatory approvals tied to the proposed work.