Coinbase Wins Abu Dhabi Tokenisation Approval
Coinbase has received Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), establishing Abu Dhabi as its international tokenisation hub. The approval allows Coinbase to arrange investment deals and provide custody services for tokenised securities.
Abu Dhabi Becomes Coinbase’s Tokenisation Base
The approval marks a significant step in Coinbase’s expansion of onchain capital markets. The company announced the development on August 11, 2026, positioning ADGM as the base for its international tokenisation operations.
Under the new structure, tokenised securities issued in ADGM will be backed by underlying shares. They will also operate under FSRA supervision. Furthermore, verified token holders can receive shareholder rights, including dividends and voting rights, subject to the terms of each security.
Coinbase said its model is designed to give eligible investors access to securities through digital wallets. However, transactions remain subject to sanctions screening and other regulatory controls. The company can also freeze or seize assets at the wallet level when required.
The regulatory structure is already linked to Coinbase’s tokenised-equity infrastructure. ADGM records show that Onchain Marketplace Ltd has permissions to arrange investment deals and provide custody for specified financial instruments. Its custody permissions include securities issued by Coinbase Onchain SPV Limited.
Tokenised Equities Move Toward Commercial Use
Coinbase’s Abu Dhabi strategy extends beyond regulatory approval. The company is building infrastructure that can represent traditional securities as blockchain-native financial instruments.
Moreover, ADGM’s public disclosures list Coinbase bStocks among the securities connected to its regulated ecosystem. The disclosures include Coinbase alongside companies such as Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and NVIDIA.
The structure also points to Abu Dhabi’s growing role in regulated tokenisation. Coinbase said its tokenised securities will combine conventional securities rights with blockchain-based ownership and transfer mechanisms. This approach could support broader access to capital markets while retaining regulatory oversight.
Brett Tejpaul, Co-CEO of Coinbase Institutional, said, “ADGM issued one of the world’s first regulatory frameworks for virtual assets in 2018. That reflected a genuine institutional commitment to innovation-forward regulation, executed with the rigor that global financial markets require. No major financial center has yet built a framework that treats tokenized equities simultaneously as securities, blockchain-native tokens, and DeFi-composable assets.”
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer, ADGM, said, “Coinbase’s establishment of its international tokenisation hub in ADGM is a strong endorsement of Abu Dhabi’s growing role in shaping the future of global finance. It reflects the strength of ADGM’s progressive, robust and internationally aligned regulatory framework, which continues to provide leading global institutions with the confidence to develop responsible, blockchain-enabled financial services at scale. As tokenisation becomes an increasingly important part of capital markets infrastructure, ADGM remains committed to supporting innovation that enhances market access, transparency and investor confidence, while upholding the highest standards of regulatory oversight.”
UAE Strategy Extends Beyond Tokenisation
Coinbase’s move forms part of a wider UAE strategy. The company is developing its tokenised-securities and onchain capital-markets business in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, it is positioning Dubai as a global hub for derivatives.
The development also reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader effort to attract regulated digital-asset businesses. ADGM has continued expanding its financial ecosystem while maintaining a regulatory framework for virtual assets and blockchain-based financial services.
Consequently, Coinbase’s approval gives the UAE a larger role in the company’s international capital-markets strategy. It also gives ADGM another major institutional platform for testing regulated tokenisation at scale.
For Coinbase, the next stage will depend on the rollout of tokenised securities, investor eligibility and market liquidity. The company has established the regulatory foundation. It now faces the harder task of turning that infrastructure into a functioning international onchain securities market.
