Coinbase Secures Key License in Abu Dhabi as the Middle East Becomes a New Hub for Tokenized Assets

marsbitPublicado a 2026-08-12Actualizado a 2026-08-12

Resumen

Coinbase has secured a key Financial Services Permission (FSP) from Abu Dhabi's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), enabling it to establish an International Tokenization Hub within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This license permits Coinbase to conduct investment trading arrangements and offer custody services, with the core aim of launching tokenized securities. This move is positioned as a significant step toward building a more open and accessible global financial system, particularly for the estimated 4 billion individuals currently excluded from traditional capital markets. Tokenized securities issued on this platform will be fully backed by underlying stocks and regulated by the FSRA. Verified token holders will possess full shareholder rights, including dividends and voting rights, requiring only a digital wallet for participation—eliminating the need for traditional securities accounts. The framework incorporates ongoing sanctions screening and allows for asset freezing at the wallet level, aiming to reconcile DeFi functionalities with regulatory compliance. Coinbase executives and ADGM officials highlighted the pioneering nature of ADGM's virtual asset regulatory framework, established in 2018, which treats tokenized assets simultaneously as securities, blockchain-native tokens, and composable DeFi assets. This development in Abu Dhabi, alongside Coinbase's investments in Dubai, underscores the company's commitment to establishing the UAE as a hub...

Author:Coinbase Blog

Compiled by:Deep Tide TechFlow

Deep Tide Insight: Coinbase has obtained a financial services license in Abu Dhabi, preparing to move traditional assets like stocks onto the blockchain. This means that the 4 billion people globally who are excluded from traditional capital markets could, in the future, participate in investment with just a wallet. For professionals eyeing the real-world asset tokenization track, this is a significant signal of a regulatory framework coming into effect. It may subsequently trigger a wave of competition among exchanges to secure a compliant foothold in the Middle East.

Coinbase Establishes Tokenization Hub in Abu Dhabi, Secures License from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority

Coinbase has obtained a Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority to establish its International Tokenization Hub at Abu Dhabi Global Market. Abu Dhabi Global Market is the international financial center of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. This is one of the most significant steps we have taken to date in building a more open and accessible global financial system.

Coinbase has been granted a license by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market, allowing it to undertake investment arranging activities and provide custodial services to facilitate our launch of tokenized securities. This forms the foundation for us to establish our International Tokenization Hub in Abu Dhabi.

Why this matters: 4 billion people globally lack access to capital markets. Not because they lack funds, but because the system was never built for them. Investable opportunities are out of reach, and the cost of participation is too high. This license is our first step in changing that reality.

Tokenized securities registered and issued on Abu Dhabi Global Market are fully backed by underlying shares and supervised by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Verified token holders enjoy full shareholder rights, including dividends and voting rights.

Investors do not need a securities account or a broker relationship; they only need a wallet. Every transfer undergoes continuous sanctions screening, and we can freeze or seize assets at the wallet level when necessary, proving that DeFi and regulatory compliance are not in conflict.

Brett Tejpaul, Co-Head of Coinbase Institutional, stated: "Abu Dhabi Global Market released one of the world's first virtual asset regulatory frameworks in 2018. This demonstrates a genuine institutional commitment to innovation-first regulation, executed with the rigor required by global financial markets. No other major financial center has established such a framework that recognizes tokenized stocks simultaneously as securities, blockchain-native tokens, and composable assets for DeFi."

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer of Abu Dhabi Global Market, stated: "Coinbase's establishment of its International Tokenization Hub at Abu Dhabi Global Market is a powerful testament to Abu Dhabi's growing role in shaping the future of global finance. It reflects the strength of ADGM's progressive, robust, and internationally aligned regulatory framework, which consistently provides confidence to leading global institutions to develop responsible, blockchain-based financial services at scale. As tokenization becomes an increasingly integral part of capital markets infrastructure, ADGM remains committed to supporting innovations that enhance market access, transparency, and investor confidence, while adhering to the highest standards of regulatory oversight."

This launch is part of our broader commitment to the UAE. Through our investments in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Coinbase is building two of its most ambitious global businesses outside the US: a hub for tokenized securities and on-chain capital markets, and a global derivatives hub. Together, they reflect our confidence in the UAE as a home for next-generation financial infrastructure.

The Financial Services Permission from FSRA provides us with the regulatory foundation, infrastructure, and right partners to bring capital markets within reach of the people who need them most. The next frontier of global finance is on-chain. We are building it.

1 Digital Securities are subject to certain vesting conditions, as defined in the offering document for the Digital Securities. Only Vested Holders may exercise certain rights, including voting rights on the underlying asset. Dividends are automatically reinvested. All holders may derive economic benefit from this feature of the Digital Security, but only Vested Holders are eligible for redemption rights.

2 To exercise certain rights of the Digital Securities, namely redemption rights, Vested Holders must have an applicable securities or bank account to be able to receive redemption proceeds. However, trading in the Digital Securities alone does not require opening such a securities or bank account.

Preguntas relacionadas

QWhat key license did Coinbase obtain in Abu Dhabi and what is its significance?

ACoinbase obtained a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This license allows Coinbase to operate as an investment trading arrangement provider and offer custody services for tokenized securities. It's significant because it marks a major step in Coinbase's plan to establish an International Tokenization Hub in ADGM, aiming to bring traditional assets like stocks on-chain and increase global financial accessibility.

QAccording to the article, how many people globally are excluded from capital markets, and what is the proposed solution?

AThe article states that 4 billion people globally are excluded from capital markets. The proposed solution, facilitated by Coinbase's new license, is tokenization. This would allow individuals to invest using just a crypto wallet, bypassing the need for traditional securities accounts or banking relationships, thereby lowering barriers to entry.

QWhat are the characteristics of tokenized securities to be issued in ADGM as described in the article?

ATokenized securities issued in ADGM are described as being fully backed by underlying stocks and supervised by the FSRA. Verified token holders have full shareholder rights, including dividends and voting rights. The article also notes that DeFi compatibility and regulatory compliance are not in conflict, as assets can be frozen or seized at the wallet level if necessary.

QWhat two major global business lines is Coinbase establishing in the UAE according to the announcement?

ACoinbase is establishing two major global business lines in the UAE: an International Tokenization Hub for tokenized securities and on-chain capital markets in Abu Dhabi, and a global derivatives hub in Dubai. These initiatives reflect Coinbase's confidence in the UAE as a home for next-generation financial infrastructure.

QWhy does Coinbase praise ADGM's regulatory framework, and what year was its virtual asset framework introduced?

ACoinbase praises ADGM's regulatory framework for being innovation-forward, rigorously enforced, and internationally aligned. Brett Tejpaul notes that ADGM established one of the world's first virtual asset regulatory frameworks back in 2018, demonstrating a long-term institutional commitment to fostering responsible, blockchain-based financial services.

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