Strategic Expansion into the UAE
Digital asset firm Galaxy Digital has established a new entity in Abu Dhabi as part of its expansion strategy in the Middle East, the company announced. This move signifies Galaxy Digital's commitment to scaling its digital asset investment and infrastructure services in institutional markets experiencing high demand.
The firm will operate under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the emirate’s international financial center, which has emerged as a significant hub for cryptocurrency and financial technology companies.
Mike Novogratz, founder and chief executive officer of Galaxy, stated that the expansion reflects the company’s strategy to deepen partnerships and broaden operations across regions demonstrating strong institutional demand.
This announcement follows Galaxy’s reported strong financial performance for the third quarter of 2025. The firm recently participated in a planned Solana treasury fund alongside Cantor Fitzgerald, Multicoin Capital, and Jump Crypto, according to the company.
Bouchra Darwazah, managing director at Galaxy, described the Middle East as a center of capital, innovation, and investor sophistication. The new office will support Galaxy’s objective to position itself as a leading global digital asset investment and infrastructure firm, Darwazah stated.
UAE's Growing Crypto Regulatory Landscape
The United Arab Emirates has attracted numerous major cryptocurrency firms in recent months as regulators in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have approved additional exchanges and stablecoin issuers. This proactive regulatory environment is fostering growth and attracting significant players in the digital asset space.
Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have approved registrations for major global exchanges over the past year, including Binance and Bybit, according to regulatory announcements. These approvals are crucial for establishing regulated trading and operational frameworks within the region.
Stablecoin issuers have also secured regulatory approvals in the region. ADGM recently allowed regulated companies to issue a Ripple stablecoin, while the financial center recognized a Tether fiat-referenced token. Circle received authorization to operate as a financial service provider in the jurisdiction.
Tether’s stablecoin has secured regulatory recognition as an approved fiat-referenced token across multiple blockchains within ADGM. The financial center now permits licensed institutions to conduct regulated activities involving the token across Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON, and TRON. These approvals expand on earlier recognition for the token on Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche.
Binance disclosed it has secured full authorization to operate its flagship platform under ADGM oversight. The exchange will operate through three distinct legal entities in the zone—an exchange, a clearing house, and a broker-dealer—designed to enable regulated trading, custody, settlement, and off-exchange services, according to the company.