Galaxy Digital Expands Its Presence in Abu Dhabi Amid Middle East Growth

Galaxy Digital has launched a new office in Abu Dhabi, enhancing its footprint in the Middle East as regulators in the UAE accelerate the approval process for major exchanges and stablecoin issuers.

Key Takeaways

Galaxy Digital has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
The expansion reflects strong institutional demand for digital assets in the region.
The UAE has recently attracted several major cryptocurrency firms due to favorable regulatory changes.
Tether's stablecoin and other financial services have received regulatory approvals in the region.
Binance has secured full authorization to operate under ADGM.

Galaxy Digital opens Abu Dhabi crypto hub

Digital asset firm Galaxy Digital announced the establishment of a new entity in Abu Dhabi aimed at expanding its reach in the Middle Eastern market. This strategic move aligns with the growing demand for cryptocurrencies in the region, supported by favorable regulations. The new office will play a key role in positioning Galaxy Digital as a leader in digital asset investment and infrastructure globally.

Galaxy Digital's Focus on Abu Dhabi

Galaxy Digital will function under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), which serves as the emirate’s international financial center, attracting cryptocurrency and financial technology businesses. Mike Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital, highlighted that this expansion signifies the company’s aim to strengthen partnerships and increase its operations in regions showing robust institutional demand.

This announcement comes on the heels of Galaxy's reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Recently, the firm joined a planned treasury fund initiative for Solana with partners such as Cantor Fitzgerald, Multicoin Capital, and Jump Crypto.

Bouchra Darwazah, managing director at Galaxy Digital, emphasized the Middle East's role as a hub of capital, innovation, and sophisticated investors. The new Abu Dhabi office will support Galaxy's goal of establishing itself as a significant global player in digital asset investment and infrastructure.

Regulatory Landscape in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has become a hotspot for major cryptocurrency firms following recent approvals from regulators in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for new exchanges and stablecoin issuers. Over the past year, both cities have granted licenses to significant global exchanges, including Binance and Bybit.

In addition to exchange approvals, stablecoin issuers have gained regulatory recognition. ADGM recently authorized regulated firms to issue a Ripple stablecoin and has acknowledged Tether as a fiat-referenced token. Furthermore, Circle has received authorization to operate as a financial service provider within the jurisdiction.

Tether's stablecoin is now recognized as an approved fiat-referenced token across multiple blockchains operated within ADGM, including Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON, and TRON. These approvals build upon earlier recognitions for the token on other platforms such as Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche.

Binance has also confirmed that it has obtained full approval to operate its leading platform under the supervision of ADGM. The exchange plans to function through three distinct legal entities in the region—an exchange, a clearing house, and a broker-dealer—facilitating regulated trading, custody, settlement, and off-exchange services.