Solana Company Partners With Kazakhstan on Crypto Megacity Project
BITmarkets Team
Jun 30, 2026
The agreement was finalized during the Alatau City Roadshow in Shenzhen and Hong Kong in June, an event that reportedly secured 30 cooperation agreements with a combined investment potential exceeding $6 billion. “We look forward to deepening this partnership and expanding the Solana ecosystem's footprint across the region,” said Solana Company chairman and CEO Joseph Chee.
The partnership further strengthens Solana’s growing presence in Kazakhstan. Last year, the country established Central Asia’s first Solana Economic Zone in Astana in collaboration with the Solana Foundation. More recently, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) launched its first Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF), giving investors regulated exposure to SOL through one of the region’s largest stock exchanges.
The Solana Foundation also signed its own memorandum of understanding with Alatau City during the same roadshow to support the city’s blockchain development efforts.
Partnership focuses on blockchain infrastructure
Under the agreement, Solana Company will help develop Alatau City’s digital asset treasury, blockchain infrastructure, institutional blockchain adoption, and broader platform development. According to Alisher Abdykadyrov, CEO of the Alatau City Authority, the collaboration also includes the creation of the Alatau Crypto Cluster, a dedicated pilot zone and special economic area where cryptocurrencies will be permitted for everyday transactions.
The initiative is designed to position Alatau City as a regional hub for blockchain innovation and digital finance while encouraging institutional participation in the growing digital asset ecosystem.
Ambitious vision faces real-world challenges
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev first introduced the Alatau City project to an international audience in May 2024. Although the development remains in its early stages, planners envision a fully integrated smart city powered by artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, digital identity systems, hydrogen energy, autonomous drones, robotaxis, and low-altitude aircraft.
Speaking at Solana Summit Kazakhstan 2026, Arman Tastanbekov, deputy CEO of the Alatau City Authority, said the city is being designed with AI and blockchain embedded into its infrastructure from the outset.
Despite the ambitious roadmap, the project still faces obstacles. Kazakhstan’s National Bank and Financial Monitoring Agency have reportedly expressed concerns over the constitutional and regulatory changes required to support a crypto-based economy. At the same time, local reports indicate that many residents of the area currently designated as Alatau City continue to experience shortages of essential services, including gas, electricity, water, and internet connectivity, highlighting the significant work still required before the vision becomes reality.
Sources:
https://cointelegraph.com/news/solana-company-to-back-kazakhstans-6b-crypto-megacity-ambition
https://vlast.kz/english/67011-alatau-kazakhstans-new-digital-city-without-internet-and-roads.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alatau_(town,_Almaty_Region)
