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Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Amended ADGM rules on digital assets to cut approval time and attract institutional players

By Devesh Mamtani in 'Century in News'

Amended ADGM rules on digital assets to cut...

Devesh Mamtani, June 11, 2025, The National

The changes by Abu Dhabi’s financial hub ADGM to its regulatory framework for digital assets will reduce approval time for tokens and also attract more institutional players, according to analysts.

The amendments streamline the process through which virtual assets (VAs) are accepted for use in the financial hub, ADGM's regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), said. They also impose appropriate capital requirements and fees for authorised persons conducting regulated VA activities.

The changes will lead to faster token approvals, since the process of adding new VAs to the ADGM’s “Accepted Virtual Assets” list has been streamlined, according to Nic Puckrin, crypto analyst and founder of The Coin Bureau, which publishes independent crypto-educational content.

“Previously, it was a lengthy and arduous process, but it will now take a lot less time, provided the token meets risk, liquidity and transparency standards,” he added.

The move signals the maturing of Abu Dhabi’s regulatory regime and its ambition to become a global hub for digital assets, said Devesh Mamtani, chief market strategist at Dubai-based Century Financial. These amendments also increase ADGM’s competitive standing relative to other financial centres like Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The amendments were implemented after “extensive” industry engagement and feedback, according to the FSRA.

Mr. Mamtani said the framework now introduces tiered capital thresholds based on the type and scale of services offered.
For instance, custody providers of virtual assets must hold either $250,000 in base capital or six months’ audited operating expenses. Multilateral trading facilities handling virtual assets are now required to hold six months' operational expenses plus any additional buffer.
Additionally, virtual asset service providers must now comply with enhanced custody and safeguarding rules, with a stronger focus on the segregation of client assets and technological risk management, Mr. Mamtani said.

The amendments also introduce specific product intervention powers in relation to VAs. The FSRA now has formal authority to restrict or prohibit virtual asset products that pose undue risk to investors or markets.

Source:

The National