Let $K$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, and $X$ be an affine $K$-variety (identify $X$ with its set of $K$-points). Let $G$ be group acting "abstractly" on $X$, by which I mean there is simply a group homomorphism $\rho:G \to \operatorname{Aut}(X)$. Then $G$ also acts on the coordinate ring $K[X]$ by $K$-algebra automorphisms (there is an associated group homomorphism $\rho^\*:G \to \operatorname{Aut}(K[X])$.


It is a classical fact that if $G$ is an algebraic $K$-group (identify $G$ with the group of points $G(K$)) acting algebraically on $X$ (i.e. the map $G \times X \to X$ is a morphism of varieties), then the orbits in $K[X]$ span finite-dimensional $K$-subspaces of $K[X]$.


Are there examples in which a group $G$ acts on an affine variety $X$ where this finite-dimensionality property for orbits in $K[X]$ holds for some other reason than the action being algebraic? In particular, I am interested in the case when $G$ is the elementary subgroup of a Chevalley group with coefficients in a ring of $S$-integers, something like $G = \operatorname{SL}\_3(\mathbb{Z})$ or $G = \operatorname{SL}\_3(\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{d}])$.


So far, the only example I have is incredibly trivial, namely $X = \mathbb{A}^1\_K$ is the affine line with coordinate ring $K[x]$. Since automorphisms of $K(x)$ are möbius transformations, $K$-algebra automorphisms of $K[x]$ are affine transformations. In particular, I believe this forces orbits to be finite-dimensional for any group acting on $K[x]$.


I tried extending this example to $X = \mathbb{A}^2\_K$, using the result that automorphisms of $K[x,y]$ are tame. However, tameness is still not particularly close to being affine, even for automorphisms of finite order. I think [this question](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/228657/is-a-wild-automorphism-of-kx-1-ldots-x-n-n-geq-3-necessarily-of-infini) is related.



Algebraic groups acting on affine varieties with finite-dim orbits in the coordinate ring
A locally finite action on an affine variety is basically algebraic. More precisely, it factors through an algebraic group action. Proof: By assumption there is a $G$-stable finite dimensional subspace $V\subseteq K[X]$ containing a set of generators of $K[X]$ (just take $V=\sum\_i\langle Gf\_i\rangle\_K$ with generators $f\_i$). This corresponds to a closed embedding $X\hookrightarrow V^\*$. Let $\overline G:=\{g\in GL(V^\*)\mid g(X)=X\}$. This is a Zariski closed subgroup of $GL(V^\*)$ acting algebraically on $X$. Since $G$ acts on $V$ it also acts on $V^\*$ leaving $X$ invariant. This yield a homomorphism $G\to\overline G$ such that the $G$-action is induced by the $\overline G$-action.


