Animoca's Relocation to Abu Dhabi Connects Conventional Finance with Web3

Animoca Brands, recognized globally for its leadership in Web3 and digital property rights, has secured preliminary approval from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to act as a fund manager in the emirate. This milestone marks a major advancement in the company’s regulatory journey across the Middle East.

, permits the Hong Kong-headquartered company to move toward obtaining a full license, contingent on fulfilling capital, compliance, and operational standards. This development follows Animoca’s earlier for a crypto brokerage license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), further strengthening its foothold in the UAE’s dynamic digital asset sector.

With FSRA’s green light, Animoca will be able to oversee collective investment funds within the regulated environment of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The company, which

, covering areas such as Web3 gaming, infrastructure, and tokenized platforms, is targeting institutional-grade offerings for both conventional and digital-native investors. Yat Siu, Animoca’s chairman, highlighted the UAE’s strategic significance, pointing to the region’s emergence as a center for regulated digital asset innovation. " , we are setting the stage to foster the next wave of Web3 investment opportunities," Siu remarked in a recent discussion.

This approval fits into Animoca’s wider plan to tokenize real-world assets (RWAs) and broaden its institutional reach.

The company is now alongside DL Holdings, a firm listed in Hong Kong, using the Ledger blockchain as its foundation. This project, which is part of a broader focus on digital property rights and infrastructure, highlights Animoca’s dedication to connecting traditional finance with Web3. The company has also to tokenize real-world assets through its blockchain-based vault marketplace, NUVA, and is on a $50 million token initiative to enhance education finance (EduFi).

Abu Dhabi’s regulatory advancements complement Dubai’s initiatives to draw digital asset businesses. The UAE has become a prominent hub for blockchain and crypto enterprises, with both cities offering licensing frameworks for compliant operations. Animoca’s regional growth mirrors similar strategies by international exchanges and asset managers aiming to benefit from the UAE’s supportive regulatory climate.

The company’s chairman is also set to

at the Global Blockchain Show 2025 in Abu Dhabi, where he will be a featured speaker. This participation demonstrates Animoca’s ongoing role in shaping the digital asset sector in the region. With its regulated presence in the UAE, the firm is well-placed to tap into the increasing institutional demand for tokenized assets and blockchain-powered financial solutions.