AI Hackathon Against Financial Crimes Started at KazNU

The two-day national IT competition "AFM AI Hackathon 2026: Technologies Against Financial Crimes" organized jointly by the Agency for Financial Monitoring of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AFM) and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has started its work at the Farabi Hub Center for Innovative Products and High-Tech Projects.

This large-scale event, organized as part of the implementation of the principle of "Law and Order" in our country, is aimed at introducing modern digital solutions in the field of countering economic and financial crimes, as well as at developing the innovative potential of young people. This landmark event brought together more than 350 participants from different regions of Kazakhstan who are interested in developing digital solutions for the field of financial and economic security, including IT specialists, data analysts, software developers, experts in the field of artificial intelligence, and students from leading higher education institutions in the country.

At the opening ceremony of the hackathon, Amir Sagyndykov, Head of the Office of the Agency for Financial Monitoring of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Margulan Ibraimov, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Innovative Activities at Kazakh National University, wished the participants success. During the meeting, a video message from Dmitry Mun, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was also shown.

Vice Rector Margulan Ibraimov noted in his speech that in the context of the rapid development of the digital economy, the importance of artificial intelligence technologies, big Data analysis and modern digital management tools is increasing. According to him, this hackathon has become an effective platform that unites representatives of government agencies, IT experts and talented young people, providing an opportunity to find innovative solutions that meet the current challenges of the digital age. This event opens the way for young developers not only to demonstrate their knowledge, but also to propose projects that can be really applied in the public sector.

In addition, the Vice-Rector focused on the scientific and technological potential of KazNU. Today, the leading research university in Central Asia has more than 30,000 students and offers over 550 educational programs. The university is actively developing areas such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, big data analysis, and digital technologies. KazNU also boasts a successful supercomputer cluster, modern scientific laboratories, and research centers.

Over the course of two days, the participating teams will develop projects in three key areas. The first area is Digital Shadow, that is, monitoring the shadow Internet (darknet) and collecting data from open sources (OSINT); the second is AI Shield, creating artificial intelligence algorithms to protect databases and ensure cybersecurity; the third is AI Media Watch, automatically detecting signs of illegal gambling and pyramid schemes on social networks.

After the grand opening, a recruitment presentation was held by the Financial Monitoring Agency. During the presentation, the young people were provided with information about the agency's activities, the main areas of digital transformation, and professional development opportunities. After that, the teams began to complete the competition tasks. The participants analyzed the provided cases, developed project concepts, and discussed technical solutions with experts. The FMA specialists and specialized consultants provided the teams with methodological and expert support, helping them to refine their ideas.

AFM AI Hackathon 2026 provides young professionals with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, propose practical solutions to current financial security challenges, and contribute to the development of modern technologies for protecting the state's economic interests. The first day of the hackathon concluded with an intermediate project defense, where teams presented the first results of their work. The best projects will receive support from the government for further development and implementation in practical activities aimed at countering financial offenses.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University