Solana Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan’s Alatau City to advise on the establishment of blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure for the planned city. The China roadshow tied to the announcement also produced 30 partnership agreements with combined investment potential of more than $6 billion.
The cooperation is structured around four areas: digital asset treasury solutions, blockchain infrastructure deployment, faster institutional adoption of blockchain technology, and the development of digital platforms for Alatau City. Solana Company Chairman and CEO Joseph Chee said he expects the partnership to deepen and expand the Solana ecosystem’s presence across the region.
Crypto cluster proposal moves into the cooperation plan
Alisher Abdykadyrov, CEO of the Alatau City Authority, said the agreement also includes Solana Company’s participation in the Alatau Crypto Cluster. The cluster is envisioned as a pilot zone and economic area inside the new city where cryptocurrencies would be permitted for daily transactions. That places the deal beyond general advisory work and into a more concrete testing ground for digital asset use.
During the same roadshow, the Solana Foundation signed a separate memorandum with Alatau City, committing support for expanding the city’s blockchain capacity and infrastructure. The deal adds to a growing set of links between Kazakhstan and the broader Solana ecosystem. Last year, Central Asia’s first Solana Economic Zone was launched in Astana in partnership with the Solana Foundation.
Kazakhstan adds another regulated Solana product
Just last week, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, or KASE, introduced its first Solana ETF. The product gives investors regulated exposure to SOL price movements without direct token custody. For the local market, that opens a traditional access route to digital-asset-linked instruments.
Alatau City itself remains at an early planning stage. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev introduced the project to the international community in May 2024. The vision for the city includes artificial intelligence, digital identity, and blockchain from the outset, along with low-altitude aerial vehicles, robotaxis, and autonomous drones for transport and logistics. Its proposed economy would run on hydrogen energy.
Early-stage vision still faces practical constraints
Independent assessment reports released in March raised caution around the plan. According to those reports, both the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Financial Monitoring expressed concerns that a crypto-based economy could require constitutional amendments. Separate independent sources also pointed to unresolved basics in the designated area, including access to natural gas, water, electricity, and internet services.
The result is a split picture: Solana-linked institutions are expanding their commitments in Kazakhstan, while Alatau City still faces regulatory and infrastructure hurdles that could lengthen implementation timelines.