Animoca Brands Receives Fund Management Approval in Abu Dhabi

Animoca Brands has achieved a key milestone by receiving in-principle approval to establish a fund management business in Abu Dhabi, enhancing its regulated operations within the UAE digital asset market.

Key Takeaways

Animoca Brands has received in-principle approval in Abu Dhabi for a fund management business.
The approval allows the company to seek full licensing to manage investment funds within the UAE.
Animoca is actively expanding its operations in the Middle East, focusing on regulatory compliance for digital assets.
The company is involved in tokenization projects and has secured a crypto brokerage license in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are becoming key hubs for digital asset companies seeking regulated environments.

Animoca Brands secures fund management approval in Abu Dhabi - 1

Animoca Brands, a leading digital asset firm, has secured initial approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Abu Dhabi to set up a fund management business. This development is a step toward getting full licensing, allowing the company to manage collective investment funds under a regulated framework in the UAE. Additionally, Animoca is expanding its presence in the Middle East, focusing on developing regulatory frameworks for digital assets, while also working on projects that tokenize real-world assets.

Main Content

On November 24, Animoca Brands announced it received in-principle approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Abu Dhabi to launch a fund management business. This approval is a significant step for the Hong Kong-based firm as it moves towards obtaining full licensing, contingent upon meeting necessary capital, compliance, and operational requirements.

The licensing will allow Animoca Brands to manage collective investment funds within the United Arab Emirates under a regulated framework. The company boasts a portfolio of over 600 investments spanning web3 gaming, digital property rights, infrastructure, and tokenized platforms, as outlined by company disclosures.

This latest approval comes shortly after Animoca obtained an in-principle crypto brokerage license from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in Dubai in October. This license will enable the firm to offer regulated trading services in Dubai—a notable move in the growing digital asset landscape.

Expanding Presence in the Middle East

Animoca Brands is strategically increasing its footprint in the Middle East, aligning with the region's evolving regulatory frameworks for digital assets. The UAE has established clear licensing pathways for cryptocurrency and blockchain companies, which encourages a thriving ecosystem.

The company is also working on tokenization projects involving real-world assets, including a limited partnership fund created in collaboration with Hong Kong-listed DL Holdings, utilizing the XRP Ledger blockchain platform.

Yat Siu, chairman of Animoca, is set to speak at the Global Blockchain Show 2025 in Abu Dhabi, demonstrating the company's commitment to engaging with the digital asset community.

Animoca operates across multiple facets of the digital economy, including advisory services, investment activities, and web3 gaming platforms. The fund management license is expected to provide the necessary regulatory framework for institutional investment activities within the region.

Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are fast becoming preferred locations for digital asset companies that seek regulated environments. In recent years, numerous cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain firms, and digital asset managers have established operations in the UAE, thanks to the country's advancements in regulatory measures for the industry.