Binance has secured three new licenses in Abu Dhabi, strengthening its presence in one of the Middle East’s most ambitious digital asset hubs and giving its platform a solid regulatory foundation as it seeks to attract institutional investment.
The Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority has approved the operation of the Binance.com platform through regulated entities which include trading, brokerage and financial settlement activities.
The licenses were granted during the Abu Dhabi Financial Week and apply to the global Binance platform and not just its regional branch, which is an important point for professional traders who are eagerly waiting to know where the platform can serve them in an organized manner.
Major milestone #Binance is the first-ever digital asset trading platform to obtain a full suite of licenses from FSRA under @ADGlobalMarket.
This is a watershed moment that raises global standards for regulation, security and trust.
It reflects our commitment to… pic.twitter.com/ItRofJoAOC– Binance (@binance) December 8, 2025
Binance Creates Multi-Entity Structure for Trading, Financial Settlement and Commerce
Under the new structure, Nest Services Limited – which will be renamed Nest Exchange Limited – has received approval as a licensed investment platform, with authorization to operate a multi-party trading instrument and provide trading activities for the Binance platform, including spot and derivatives markets.
Nest Clearing and Custody Limited has also been licensed as an Authorized Financial Settlement Center, with additional custody and custody privileges, to be the entity responsible for clearing, settlement and custody of digital assets.
The third entity, BCI Limited, which will be renamed Nest Trading Limited, will hold a financial brokerage license to cover financial transactions, arranging investment operations, asset management, custody and financial services, including off-platform trading and transfer activities.
Binance will leverage the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) system to improve compliance and global reach
Binance described the licensing package as a comprehensive regulatory framework for its Binance.com platform, which is the first in the world at this level. The company believes these approvals pave the way for smooth exploration of multiple markets outside the UAE and will help it present itself as a clearer regulatory partner to institutional investors who are increasingly wary of poorly regulated platforms after a series of issues.
In a statement, Richard Teng, co-CEO of Binance and former head of Abu Dhabi Global Market, said that working within the authority’s system reflects the company’s commitment to compliance, transparency and user protection. He highlighted that the license adds clarity and reliability to the regulations and allows the Binance platform to support its global operations from Abu Dhabi, while maintaining a distributed operating model that attracts talent from around the world.
Growing crypto investments solidify Abu Dhabi’s position as an established digital financial hub
The deal is part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s overall direction to transform its oil wealth and sovereign wealth funds into long-term investments in digital assets and financial technology, as the emirate – which has sovereign wealth of around $2 trillion – continues to steadily build its presence in the crypto sector.
Against this backdrop, the Abu Dhabi Investment Council – the independent arm of Mubadala Investment Company – more than tripled its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust during the third quarter of the year, bringing its total stake to around 8 million shares as of September 30, with a total value of around $518 million at the time.
Binance also maintains direct financial relations with Abu Dhabi. Last March, the platform received a $2 billion investment from MGX, an investment firm specializing in artificial intelligence led by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, one of the most influential figures in the emirate’s financial and security establishment. This support and new licenses reinforce the sentiment that Abu Dhabi views Binance as an essential part of its digital financial strategy.
Although the platform has not yet identified a global headquarters, Ting has previously described the UAE as an attractive option. With the Abu Dhabi Global Market receiving a license to host Binance.com’s regulated activities from January 5, 2026, Abu Dhabi will remain at the top of the list of potential destinations for the company’s headquarters, especially as institutional clients increase their focus on regulatory clarity.
Binance seeks to restore trust by issuing new licenses after turbulent period
These approvals come after a difficult period for the Binance platform on the legal front, since its founder, Changpeng Zhao, resigned as CEO in 2023 after admitting to violating US anti-money laundering laws.
The company agreed to pay more than $4.3 billion to end years of U.S. investigations, and President Trump pardoned Zhao last October, removing a major legal hurdle for the former CEO, but regulators and investment authorities are still waiting for the platform to prove its ability to operate under tighter controls.
For its part, Binance announced that it currently has more than 300 million registered users and a total trading volume exceeding $125 trillion, and confirms that working within the laws of Abu Dhabi will give individual users and institutions greater assurance on matters of surveillance and consumer protection, as it continues to pursue its long-standing goal of providing services to one billion people.
Finally, it should be noted that the platform’s management team is witnessing some changes linked to regulatory developments. Last week, Binance co-founder Ting Yi He named the company’s new co-CEO, and she has been described as a driving force since the platform’s launch. He also praised his role in shaping its culture, vision and user-centric approach, and his official promotion indicates Binance’s desire to cultivate more capable executives in light of its new focus on regulated markets.
The post Binance Platform Strengthens Its Presence in the UAE by Receiving Regulatory Approvals in Abu Dhabi appeared first on Cryptonews Arabic.
