Certik says UAE entities lost $8.02 million in digital asset security incidents in 2026
Certik, a Web3 security services provider, is increasing its presence in the UAE as it research found that UAE registered entities were involved in five digital asset security incidents that resulted in documented losses of $8.02 million without taking into account the losses of the fifth entity yet. Due to limitations in incident reporting and attribution, the actual number of incidents and total losses may be significantly higher.
Certik notes that as more financial institutions and digital asset businesses expand in the UAE, the demand for asset security, operational resilience, and ongoing compliance grows, alongside regulatory progress.
Certik for example is working within Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 to support the startups in the digital asset ecosystem offering discounted security services and free access to CertiK Compliance.
CertiK supports these needs through its work with local institutions and businesses, including Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 and Gate Dubai, while continuing to strengthen its engagement in the UAE. This helps to reduce the cost and complexity when it comes to licensing and compliance requirements.
In March 2026, CertiK also completed an independent Proof of Reserves (PoR) verification for Gate Dubai, a VARA-licensed exchange, confirming at least 100% reserve coverage across 10 digital assets as of December 31, 2025.
“Financial institutions are making real progress in bringing digital assets into financial services, but regulatory approval is only the starting point,” said Jason Jiang. “Protecting customer assets and managing risks as operations scale requires continuous security and compliance. This is why CertiK is expanding beyond Web3 security to become the Trust Layer for Digital Value, helping institutions build trust across an increasingly complex digital economy.”
Since 2017, CertiK has protected over $600 billion in digital assets across 150+ countries and regions, while providing full-lifecycle security and risk management solutions for institutional clients.
The announcement comes as more banks and financial institutions are incorporating digital assets into their operations and offerings. Recently Komainu, a regulated digital asset services provider and custodian backed by Laser Digital and Blockstream, completed the two-way transfer of a portfolio of digital assets with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) through the institutional digital asset custody framework the two firms have established. The transfers settled instantly. FAB can now move digital assets both into and out of custody environments, which is required to support digital asset activity.
