CFI Financial group receives in principle approval for crypto brokerage license from VARA Dubai
CFI Financial Group, one of the MENA’s largest online trading firms, is accelerating its push into crypto and digital assets through CFIX, which has just received, an in principle approval from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority.
CFI would be the first traditional brokerage firm to offer crypto assets in the UAE regulated under VARA Dubai
Dubai-headquartered CFI Financial Group, which traces its roots to Lebanon in 1998 before relocating its global headquarters to the UAE as part of its international expansion, has grown into a major multi-asset brokerage serving clients across multiple regulated jurisdictions worldwide. The group operates through more than 15 international offices and provides access to over 15,000 financial instruments spanning forex, equities, commodities, ETFs, bonds, futures, and crypto-related products.
Through CFIX, the company is extending that offering into the virtual asset sector, providing crypto trading and broker-dealer services while emphasizing transparency through Proof of Reserves, an increasingly important feature for investors seeking assurance that client assets are fully backed.
The entry of established financial institutions into the sector reflects a broader shift taking place across the industry. Rather than viewing crypto as a standalone asset class, brokers, banks, and investment firms are increasingly integrating digital assets into their wider product offerings, giving clients access to both traditional and blockchain-based markets under regulated frameworks.
For CFI, the expansion represents a strategic step toward bridging conventional capital markets and the digital asset economy. Leveraging decades of brokerage experience, a broad international regulatory footprint, and a growing technology stack, the group is positioning itself to compete in a market where institutional demand for compliant access to virtual assets continues to rise.
VARA Dubai has recently licensed Kraken, as well as RAIN crypto exchange and has more than 24 in principle approvals for crypto exchange and brokerage licenses.
