Asterium

Asterium is Uzbekistan's third licensed cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset infrastructure platform, founded in 2025 with a charter capital of UZS 30 billion. Operating under the regulatory framework of the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), Asterium has built a full-stack regulated ecosystem covering exchange, custody, real-world asset tokenization, and retail crypto payments — designed for the Central Asian market.

Regulatory Framework

Uzbekistan has developed one of Central Asia's more structured cryptocurrency licensing regimes, with the NAPP serving as the dedicated authority for digital asset businesses. Asterium secured three separate licenses from the regulator in quick succession: crypto store operations (March 2025), crypto depository services (March 2025), and a full cryptocurrency exchange license (April 2025). By mid-2025, Uzbekistan's licensed digital asset sector comprised five depositories, eleven crypto stores, and three exchanges, with Asterium among the exchange tier.

This regulatory footing gives Asterium legal standing to handle fiat-to-crypto conversions, custody assets on behalf of customers, and issue regulated digital securities. Uzbekistan's 0% tax on crypto operations through 2029 provides an additional structural advantage for both the business and its users.

Exchange and Core Services

The Asterium exchange supports buying and selling USDT, Bitcoin, and Ethereum against Uzbek sum (UZS) and USD, with bank card settlement and 24/7 availability. The platform targets retail users who have historically relied on informal OTC markets, offering a legally compliant alternative with straightforward onboarding.

The licensed crypto depository provides institutional-grade custody for digital assets, forming the regulated storage layer that underpins Asterium's tokenization program. The Asterium digital wallet includes biometric authentication and advanced encryption for end-user key management.

Real-World Asset Tokenization

Asterium's most distinctive offering is its RWA tokenization program, operated on the Mirasmanda network — a layer-1 blockchain built on the Tycho protocol. Tycho uses TVM (TON Virtual Machine) architecture with DAG consensus, targeting throughput of up to 400,000 transactions per second and sub-3-second finality. The network is compatible with both EVM and TVM environments, enabling interoperability with Ethereum and TON ecosystem tooling. Two regulated tokens have been issued:

HUMO Token is Uzbekistan's first sovereign-backed digital asset. Pegged at 1 HUMO = 1,000 UZS, it is backed by reserves that include government bonds of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The token is registered in Uzbekistan's official crypto-asset register and was listed on the Coinstore exchange in April 2026 — the first Uzbek sovereign-backed token to reach an international centralized exchange. HUMO is designed as a regulated regional settlement instrument combining fiat stability with on-chain programmability.

AUZ Token is a gold-backed digital asset where each token represents one gram of physical gold acquired at Central Bank of Uzbekistan prices and held in regulated custodian storage. AUZ supports fractional ownership from 0.01 grams, giving retail users exposure to gold without the logistics of physical ownership. Redemptions convert tokens to fiat with the underlying gold liquidated through regulated channels. Both tokens benefit from Uzbekistan's zero-tax crypto framework through 2029.

Payments and Merchant Integration

Alongside trading and custody, Asterium operates a growing real-world payments layer. The platform integrates with Uzbekistan's existing payment infrastructure to allow merchants to accept crypto without direct volatility exposure — Asterium handles settlement, compliance, and backend processing.

Confirmed merchant integrations include Rahmat, Uzbekistan's largest digital payment platform, enabling crypto payments at cafes and restaurants across the country; and the Octobank merchant network, covering airline ticket purchases through Centrum Air and Qanot Sharq. Planned expansion targets major CIS retailers and Uzbek supermarket chains. The company's stated strategic direction is to move crypto usage from speculative trading toward everyday spending — making regulated digital assets a functional payment rail for Uzbek consumers.

Team

Komilkhodja Sultonov serves as CEO. Nadejda Cotsaga is Chief Commercial Officer. No additional team members are publicly identified in available sources.

Broader Context

Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a crypto-receptive jurisdiction in Central Asia, with NAPP serving as an active licensing body rather than a permissive passthrough. Binance launched Uzbek services in partnership with local firm Coinpay in January 2025, validating the market. Asterium's differentiation lies not in competing on global spot trading but in building regulated domestic infrastructure: sovereign-backed and commodity-backed tokens, local payment integrations, and a compliance layer tailored to Uzbekistan's legal environment.

No audits from named third-party security firms are publicly disclosed in available sources. Asterium has not announced a native governance or utility token beyond its issued RWA instruments.