In a region where access to global markets was once limited, the next generation of investor demand has sparked a fintech transformation. With a mission to make investing more accessible and convenient, Investlink, a Kazakhstan-based brokerage, has built an investment platform that empowers users with the tools they need to grow their wealth confidently.
From US equities and high-yield cash* to the recent launch of options trading, Investlink is showing that innovation comes from platforms that deeply understand their local market. We recently caught up with Daniyar Nurstultan, CEO and Founder of Investlink, following our 2023 conversation, to discuss how they’re building trust and promoting financial independence in Central Asia through thoughtful product expansion.
Investlink’s Origins: Bridging The Gap for Kazakh Investors
Founded in 2021, Investlink was born out of both frustration and ambition. While the curiosity, confidence, and eagerness of Kazakh investors was growing, there were very few brokerages in the region offering comprehensive support—and even fewer that provided direct access to US markets.
Recognizing this gap, Daniyar set out to build an investing platform that was easy enough for anyone to use. This led to the creation of Investlink, a licensed brokerage offering direct access to US markets, an intuitive mobile experience, transparent pricing, and localized support.
“We meet people where they are and help them move forward confidently, transparently, and with purpose. Our long-term ambition is to become the most trusted and intelligent investment platform in Central Asia. Not because we offer everything, but because everything we offer truly works for our clients,” says Daniyar.
This approach, combined with direct, regulated access to the US stock market built on global-grade infrastructure, has helped Investlink differentiate itself from the competition. The company’s goal is clear: to build an investing platform that creates a path toward financial stability. Seeing an increase in relevance and trust since 2021, Investlink has continued to scale through their product diversity.
The Case for Product Diversity and Options Trading
Product diversity has been a key differentiator for Investlink. Today, they offer US stocks and ETFs, margin trading, extended hours trading, high-yield cash, and options trading–all powered by Alpaca’s Broker API. Each product has seen great adoption from Kazakhstan’s young, ambitious user base.
With their high-yield product, Deposit 2.0, investors can earn up to 4.00% per annum**, helping preserve wealth during times of inflation or currency devaluation. “Adoption was quick among both first-time investors and high-net-worth clients seeking to diversify beyond the Kazakhstan banking system,” says Daniyar. “Our high-yield cash product became a powerful on-ramp into the world of US financial instruments.” Meanwhile, margin and extended hours trading give users the flexibility to react in real-time and on their terms, not just during traditional market hours.
Investlink's latest product launch, options trading, continues to significantly diversify their offering. Although options are not new to Central Asia, accessibility has historically been restricted, costly, and overly complex. Investlink is aiming to change that. “We’ve had countless clients tell us they wanted to try options but felt other platforms were too technical, too opaque, or simply out of reach financially. That’s exactly why we launched options with transparency, accessibility, and competitive pricing at the core,” explains Danyiar.
Education is also a key part of the rollout. They plan to help users understand how options can be powerful tools for hedging, income generation, and portfolio positioning—not just instruments for professional traders. “Our goal is for Investlink to evolve from a beginner-friendly platform into a comprehensive investment solution that supports clients throughout their entire financial journey,” says Daniyar.
Investlink understands that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to investing. Clients look for different tools at different stages. When they see they can earn yield, manage risk, and have diverse asset classes—all on one platform—they’re more likely to stay. As a result, Investlink has seen consistent growth in user engagement and retention.
Partnering with Alpaca
With an ambitious product roadmap, Investlink sought a forward-thinking, collaborative partner to support their platform’s infrastructure—especially one that could enable seamless access to US markets.
“Alpaca offered the APIs, compliance framework, and product suite we needed. They didn’t just sell us a box—they gave us a platform to innovate on,” says Daniyar. “Their team really took the time to understand our market, our users, and our vision, leading to a stronger product.”
“We always get motivated and energized by how fast and innovative Investlink delivers new products! Since we started partnering together firstly with their US stock offering, they’ve continued to deliver new products rapidly such as high-yield cash and options trading. We’re proud to be their partner in building a comprehensive investment platform for Central Asia,” says Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca.
The Future of Investlink
Already offering a wide array of investment tools, Daniyar says there is a lot more to be excited about. Their short-term roadmap includes:
- Shariah-Compliant Investing: A highly requested feature, Investlink is developing a curated selection of halal-compliant stocks with assigned Shariah ratings to help clients align investments with Islamic principles.
- Crypto Trading: Soon to launch, crypto will provide broader access to digital assets in a regulated, secure environment.
- Fractional Shares: Enabling more investors to build diversified portfolios—regardless of budget.
- Demo Accounts: Designed for beginners, these accounts allow users to learn and practice without risking real capital.
- Multi-Account Support: Users will be able to create and manage portfolios for different goals including personal investing, retirement, children’s education, or joint family accounts.
- Bonds and Fixed-Income Products: A response to demand for lower-volatility, yield-generating assets, especially from clients approaching retirement or who are more risk averse.
“Our roadmap reflects not just where the market is heading, but what our clients are asking for and what we believe the region truly needs,” emphasizes Daniyar. “Our goal is to empower users to grow not just their portfolios, but their financial confidence and independence.”
With a bold vision and the right infrastructure partner, Investlink is well-positioned to lead the next wave of investing in Central Asia.
About Alpaca
Alpaca is a US-headquartered self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure for stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, fixed income, and 24/5 trading – raising over USD170 million in funding. Alpaca is backed by top-tier investors globally, including Portage Ventures, Spark Capital, Tribe Capital, Social Leverage, Horizons Ventures, Unbound, SBI Group, Derayah Financial, Elefund, and Y Combinator.
Alpaca Securities LLC and Investlink LTD (“Investlink”) are not affiliated and neither is responsible for the liabilities of the other.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors due to its inherent high risk, which can potentially result in significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing in options.
*High-Yield Cash API is subject to, among other things, Alpaca’s API terms and conditions. In addition, customer access to the FDIC Bank Sweep is subject to, among other things, the Alpaca Customer Agreement, Alpaca Terms and Conditions, and the Alpaca FDIC Bank Sweep Program Terms and Conditions. Please see alpaca.markets/disclosures for further information and important disclosures.
**Please note that this interest rate is effective as of the date of publishing, June 10, 2025, and is subject to change and may not be the interest rate on the date this is read.
Alpaca Securities offers a cash management program pursuant to the FDIC Bank Sweep. Customer funds are treated differently and are subject to separate regulatory regimes depending on whether customer funds are held in their brokerage account or within the FDIC Bank Sweep. Specifically, Alpaca Securities is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures up to $250,000 per deposit against the failure of an FDIC member bank. Customer funds held in brokerage accounts are SIPC insured, but are not eligible for FDIC insurance coverage. Funds maintained in the FDIC Bank Sweep are intended to be eligible for pass-through FDIC insurance coverage, but are not subject to SIPC coverage. FDIC insurance coverage does not protect against the failure of Alpaca, Alpaca Securities, or any of its or their affiliates and/or malfeasance by any Alpaca or Alpaca Securities employee. Program banks that participate in the FDIC Bank Sweep are not members of SIPC and therefore funds held in the Program are not SIPC protected. Please see alpaca.markets/disclosures for important additional disclosures regarding Alpaca Securities brokerage offering as well as FDIC Bank Sweep terms and conditions.
Alpaca Securities customers that enroll in the FDIC Bank Sweep are potentially eligible for enhanced FDIC pass-through insurance coverage. Neither Alpaca nor Alpaca Securities are FDIC-insured. FDIC pass-through insurance coverage is subject to various conditions. The Program’s enhanced FDIC insurance coverage is limited to the aggregate number of participating program banks, multiplied by the FDIC insurance limit (i.e., $250,000). The total number of program banks is subject to change and Alpaca Securities may not utilize all program banks at all times which will affect the Program’s enhanced FDIC insurance coverage amount. In addition, if a customer has a direct banking relationship with a program bank this may affect the amount of funds that are potentially eligible for FDIC-pass through insurance coverage. There is no guarantee that customer funds will be held in such a manner as to maximize possible FDIC pass-through insurance coverage. Please see alpaca.markets/disclosures for further information and important disclosures.
The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on the website are applicable to the specific individuals. It is important to note that individual circumstances may vary, and may not be representative of the experience of others. There are no guarantees of future performance or success. The testimonials are voluntarily provided and are not paid, nor were they provided with free products, services or any other benefit in exchange for said statements.
The content of this blog is for general informational purposes only. All examples are for illustrative purposes only.
All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives. Keep in mind that while diversification may help spread risk, it does not assure a profit, or protect against loss. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities, or other financial products. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing.
All investments involve risk, and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives. Please note that diversification does not ensure a profit, or protect against loss. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities, or other financial products. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing.
Cryptocurrency is highly speculative in nature, involves a high degree of risks, such as volatile market price swings, market manipulation, flash crashes, and cybersecurity risks. Cryptocurrency regulations are continuously evolving, and it is your responsibility to understand and abide by them. Cryptocurrency trading can lead to large, immediate and permanent loss of financial value. You should have appropriate knowledge and experience before engaging in cryptocurrency trading. For additional information, please click here.
Extended Hours trading has unique risks and is different than trading in the main trading session, for more information please visit our Alpaca Extended Hours Trading Risk Disclosure
Fractional share trading allows a customer to buy and sell fractional share quantities and dollar amounts of certain securities. Fractional share trading presents unique risks and is subject to particular limitations that you should be aware of before engaging in such activity. See Alpaca Customer Agreement at https://alpaca.markets/disclosures for more details.
Fixed income securities can experience a greater risk of principal loss when interest rates rise. These investments are also subject to additional risks, including credit quality fluctuations, market volatility, liquidity constraints, prepayment or early redemption, corporate actions, tax implications, and other influencing factors.
Securities brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC ("Alpaca Securities"), member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Technology and services are offered by AlpacaDB, Inc.
Cryptocurrency services are made available by Alpaca Crypto LLC ("Alpaca Crypto"), a FinCEN registered money services business (NMLS # 2160858), and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Alpaca Crypto is not a member of SIPC or FINRA. Cryptocurrencies are not stocks and your cryptocurrency investments are not protected by either FDIC or SIPC. Please see the Disclosure Library for more information.
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