UAE and Gulf Crypto Timeline: How the Middle East Built a Licence-First Hub
A dated timeline of UAE and Gulf crypto policy – VARA and ADGM licensing, CBDC work, sovereign investment and real-economy adoption – and why licence-first worked.
Regulation
Government policy, laws and regulation shaping digital assets and the future of money.
Asia Crypto Regulation Timeline 2026: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Beyond
A dated timeline of crypto regulation and market moves across Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and China – and what the divergence reveals.
Regulated Gold Options in Abu Dhabi: ADGM’s Quiet 2-Route Play
Binance will list USDT-settled regulated gold options through its ADGM-licensed Abu Dhabi exchange — closing a gap tokenized bullion has carried for years.
Which Regulator Protects Your Crypto? 4 Checks for UAE Users
HashKey merged four exchanges into one app. Which regulator protects your crypto now depends on the entity that onboarded you — here is how UAE users check.
CLARITY Act Senate Vote Slips Past the August Recess as Ethics Fight Holds
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has conceded there is no floor time for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act before the August recess, leaving US market structure unsettled into a midterm autumn.
Flipster Secures Full VARA License as Dubai’s Exchange Roster Widens
Dubai’s VARA has issued Flipster a full operational Exchange licence under reference VL/26/07/002, adding another live regulated venue as the emirate converts in-principle approvals into working businesses.
VARA AML Rules Force Dubai Crypto Firms Into Real-Time FATF Screening
VARA now requires Dubai virtual asset firms to build data-driven risk models, integrate FATF high-risk jurisdiction lists as a live input, and refresh assessments quarterly.
RAK DAO Free Zone: Ras Al Khaimah’s Web3 Oasis
Ras Al Khaimah launched RAK DAO, a free zone for non-regulated virtual-asset businesses like DAOs and Web3 projects. What it is and how it grew by 2026.
VARA Crypto Derivatives Framework Opens Dubai’s Regulated Futures Market to Institutions
Dubai’s VARA sets formal crypto derivatives rules under Rulebook v2.1, capping retail leverage at 5:1 while opening an institutional path.