Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made his first visit to Kazakhstan and said the country could become a major AI computing hub serving Europe. Kazakhstan already runs hundreds of Nvidia GPUs and has US approval to import 45,000 more.
Jensen Huang added Kazakhstan to his list of stops on Friday, making his first visit to the country. He said it could become a major AI computing hub serving Europe.
Huang makes the case in Astana
Huang sat down for a fireside chat on October 23, 2026, with Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan's deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development. The event at the alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana closed "AI Month 2026," a national program that began on September 23.
During the chat, he named three advantages: abundant energy, existing data connectivity and growing computational capacity. He also pointed to the country's national large language model. Kazakhstan sits between Europe and Asia, and Huang framed it as a hub that could serve European demand.
Kazakhstan already runs Nvidia chips
The country is not starting from zero. State operator Kazakhtelecom has deployed 400 H200 chips and 480 B300 chips, and it plans to acquire more than 1,000 additional GPUs next year.
Plans also call for 1,000 Nvidia Vera Rubin GPUs in the Ekibastuz region. The Data Center Valley project aims to start with 125 MW of power capacity and expand in phases, potentially reaching 1 GW. It anticipates $10 billion in investment from commercial partners, including Firebird.
US approval covers 45,000 GB300 chips
Kazakhstan has received US approval to import 45,000 Nvidia GB300 Blackwell Ultra GPUs. It is also seeking approval for approximately 65,000 more.
The push sits under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's 2026 initiative to build out the country's digital and AI capabilities. Several Big Tech companies have taken interest, with Nvidia now among the most visible.
Whether the approval for roughly 65,000 additional chips comes through is one of the key things to watch, along with whether Data Center Valley reaches its initial 125 MW phase.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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