Binance Secures Regulatory Nod in Abu Dhabi, Paving Way for 2026 Launch

Binance has bagged a major milestone after receiving full regulatory approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market, making it the first global crypto exchange to secure such a licence under ADGM’s rulebook. I have to say, for anyone following the region’s fintech push — as many of us at Arageek do — this development felt spot on, even if the crypto world can sometimes be a bit of a faff.

The approval came through the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, allowing Binance to operate three separate regulated entities in Abu Dhabi. Each one has its own job: one will run the actual exchange, another will manage clearing and custody, and the third will act as a broker-dealer for services that take place off the exchange. It’s a fairly layered setup, but it gives Binance room to offer spot and derivatives trading, settlement, asset custody, and other brokerage functions, all under the watchful eye of ADGM.

Binance expects to start its regulated activities in early 2026. And believe it or not, this move doesn’t just boost the company — it strengthens Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a digital-asset hub. The emirate has been slowly but surely inching its way into global rankings, and Startup Genome’s 2025 report places the city among the top 60 emerging ecosystems worldwide, with an ecosystem value of $4.4 billion. Not too shabby for a market some outsiders still underestimate, though I reckon it deserves even more attention.

What caught my eye as well, especially from the angle of empowering startups across the region, is how Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem keeps attracting players beyond exchanges. Just recently, an Abu Dhabi-backed firm led a funding round for a Paris-based startup specialising in simplifying crypto wallet integration for businesses — a tiny detail, but it shows how the momentum is spreading across borders.

On the flip side, the stakes are high. Regulation in crypto is tricky — well… I mean, one wrong move and everything becomes a minefield. But Abu Dhabi seems determined to carve out a space where innovation and oversight coexist, even if it’s definately still a work in progress.

For now, though, Binance’s licence is a clear signal: the region’s digital economy isn’t just warming up; it’s shifting gears. And for anyone keeping an eye on MENA’s startup scene, that’s something to be chuffed to bits about.

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