In a recent interview with Abu Dhabi based ADI Foundation, CEO Guillaume de La Tour told Tahawultech about the new AED backed stablecoin, AEDC, that the foundation is working on for ADQ, sovereign wealth fund in Abu Dhabi and FAB Bank (First Abu Dhabi Bank).

The trio intend to launch a UAE Central Bank regulated AED stablecoin that will be used for making payments not only in the UAE but also internationally. Moreover the stablecoin will also be used for Machine to machine payments in the IoT domain and AI one.

According to La Tour, the AEDC stablecoin will transform UAE’s digital economy by offering fast inclusive and compliant financial services. He notes that, “It is built on a modular EVM blockchain, AEDC ensures scalability, security, and decentralization while embedding KYC/AML and FATF-compliant features to ensure privacy and regulatory compliance.”

For La Tour, AEDC is combining DeFi with traditional finance and aligns with both Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030 and ADGM’s robust regulatory framework, cementing the UAE’s role as a global fintech leader.

He explained that this is preparing the UAE for a tokenized future by digitizing the AED dirham and ensuring it is compatible with currencies like the USD, Euro and Yuan for seamless global interoperability.

In ten years, all assets, stocks, and bank accounts will be tokenized

According to La Tour in the next 10 years all assets, whether they are stocks, bank accounts, or currencies, will be tokenized to enable a 24/7 financial system. This is driven by the need for efficiency and global connectivity.

He states, “Nations are expected to increasingly tokenize their currencies to maintain sovereignty, while ensuring interoperability with blockchain-based digital financial systems. The stablecoin positions the UAE at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging its blockchain’s compliance and scalability.”

With strategic partnerships across 20+ countries, reaching nearly 500 million people, ADI Foundation bridges Web2 and Web3, integrating traditional banking with blockchain to create a compliant, inclusive ecosystem that supports economic diversification and innovation. 

The ADI Foundation is working to drive global financial inclusion by deploying a blockchain with locally validated compliance at Layer 3, tailored to each region’s regulations.  

Partnering with cutting-edge providers, La Tour notes that the ADI Foundation ensures localized infrastructure and AI integration on the blockchain, empowering communities with secure, scalable solutions.  

 He adds, “Unlike traditional blockchain solutions, ADI’s modular EVM-based platform integrates a dedicated Layer 3 compliance sublayer, ensuring adherence to local and international regulations, including KYC/AML and FATF standards. Real-time monitoring and decentralized identity (W3C-compliant) further enhance security, mitigating risks like cybercrime and fraud. This robust, transparent framework reassures stakeholders by aligning cutting-edge technology with regulatory rigor, making the stablecoin a trusted tool for seamless, scalable financial operations.” 

He gives the example of their collaboration with East Africa’s M-PESA enables 70 million users to convert mobile money into a stablecoin backed by an African currency, facilitating secure, low-cost cross-border transfers and real-time currency conversion.  

Similarly, ADI Foundation’s work with UK-based Esyasoft, revolutionizes the carbon credit market by leveraging blockchain for transparent, efficient trading to support sustainability goals, with 57 trillion transactions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of 2 billion people.  

Upcoming stablecoin challenges

 La Tour sees three main challenges to stablecoins when it comes to regulations. The first is navigating complex regulatory landscapes because of the diversity and evolving regulatory policies across jurisdictions.
 

He states, “Governments often grapple with balancing innovation against risks, like money laundering, tax evasion, and financial instability, leading to fragmented or restrictive regulations.  For instance, ensuring compliance with varying KYC/AML requirements globally, while maintaining blockchain’s decentralized ethos, is a technical and diplomatic hurdle. ADI Foundation addresses this by integrating a Layer 3 compliance sublayer into its modular EVM blockchain, enabling localized regulatory alignment without compromising scalability or security. 
The second challenge is ensuring interoperability and technological disparities which includes interoperability between stablecoins and existing financial systems.  

However, he addresses this issue stating that ADI Foundation is tackling this by designing native support for cross chain compatibility.

He explains, “For example, our collaboration with regional tech firms ensures blockchain nodes and AI-driven services operate efficiently even in low-resource environments, fostering inclusivity and operational reliability.”

The final challenge is building public and institutional confidence because of the skepticism around digital currencies. He notes that governments and investors may hesitate to adopt stablecoins, fearing economic disruptions or technical vulnerabilities.  

ADI Foundation counters this by anchoring the Dirham-backed stablecoin to the stable UAE Dirham and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, such as real-time transaction monitoring and W3C-compliant decentralized identity.  

MetaSpace, an immersive Web3 Play-to-Earn (P2E) game built on Polygon Blockchain, has secured a business license from RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO) as a Gaming Studio and Metaverse Service Provider.

As per the press release, the achievement marks a significant milestone in the project’s journey and underscores its dedication to creating a secure, compliant, and globally scalable gaming ecosystem.

MetaSpace offers a dynamic, open-world gaming experience driven by a decentralized, token-based economy. Players can earn, trade, and own in-game assets, including customizable avatars, rare digital collectibles, and NFTs that enhance gameplay and progression. The game blends action, strategy, and exploration to create a deeply engaging universe, empowering players to compete, collaborate, and craft their own unique experiences.

At the heart of the platform is its decentralized NFT marketplace, where players can freely buy, sell, and trade digital assets. Whether flipping NFTs for profit or staking them for high-yield returns, users actively contribute to the in-game economy. The game’s Play-to-Earn model transforms time spent in the game into real rewards, allowing players to shape and benefit from the game’s evolving economy, turning participation into tangible value.

“Securing the RAK DAO license is a key milestone for MetaSpace,” said Mo Akram, the founder. “It gives us the confidence and framework to grow responsibly and scale our P2E ecosystem across borders.”

MENA based Equiti Group, a global online trading and fintech innovation with licenses in UAE, UK and Cyprus, has partnered with UAE based D2A2 (Dubai Digital Asset Association), the MENA platform for regulatory discourse on tokenized real-world assets, to create a secure, transparent, and future ready digital asset ecosystem.

The alliance seeks to work to evolve the digital asset regulatory frameworks in the MENA region working with industry leaders, regulators policy makers and other key stakeholders such as the private sector.

“Finance should work for everyone, not just those with legacy access. Partnering with D2A2 gives us the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with fellow industry leaders, share insights, and help shape a more inclusive financial future,” stated Iskandar Najjar, Equiti Group CEO & co-founder. “It’s about building a community where innovation is driven collectively, and access to opportunity is expanded through collaboration.”

Equiti brings deep experience in regulated finance, global market infrastructure and fintech solutions across EMEA. D2A2, meanwhile, is uniquely positioned as a regulatory thought leader, providing a trusted forum for exploring secure digitisation of real-world assets, including property, commodities, and income-generating instruments.

Together, the two organizations will champion collaboration for sustainable tokenized finance in the region. “Our collaboration with Equiti represents a significant step in furthering our commitment to stakeholder engagement and ecosystem development,” added Gaurang Desai, Chairman of D2A2. By fostering constructive dialogue and supporting responsible innovation, we aim to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for digital assets.”

The Equiti-D2A2 partnership will focus on four core pillars, driving industry-regulator dialogue to foster balanced growth of the digital asset sector, contributing to policy clarity on tokenization, custody, and cross-border innovation, elevating financial literacy on blockchain and real-world asset tokenization and bridging TradFi and DeFi through infrastructure that unites security with agility.

Ctrl Alt, a tokenization infrastructure platform, has secured a Virtual asset broker dealer license as well as issuer license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). As of May 1, 2025, Ctrl Alt has tokenized over $295 million in assets, spanning real estate, private credit, funds, litigation finance and more.

As per the press release Ctrl Alt is the first VASP authorized to conduct issuer-related services. This milestone marks a significant step in Ctrl Alt’s global expansion and highlights its commitment to operating within robust regulatory frameworks. The virtual asset issuer license allows Ctrl Alt to operate a full-stack, regulatory-compliant platform for the creation, management and distribution of tokenized real-world assets and ARVA tokens.

ARVA tokens are defined under Dubai law as representing direct or indirect ownership of real-world assets, granting entitlement to receive or share income and purporting to maintain a stable value by reference to real-world assets or income. ARVA tokens are also backed or collateralized by such real-world assets or constitute a derivative, wrapped, duplicated, or fractionalized version of another ARVA.

Ctrl Alt recently demonstrated its solution with its partnership with Dubai Land Department for their real estate tokenization project. Ctrl Alt created the framework to mint and place real estate tokens on-chain. PRYPCO Mint, the first licensed real estate tokenization platform, in partnership with Dubai Land Department, Dubai’s Regulatory Authority, and powered by Ctrl Alt blockchain, issued the region’s first property token ownership certificate. The fully funded property attracted 224 investors from over 40 nationalities, with an average investment amount of AED 10,714, underscoring the platform’s wide appeal and the growing appetite for accessible, tech-enabled real estate opportunities in the region.

“We are proud to receive our VARA license and establish fully regulated operations in the UAE,” said Matt Ong, Founder and CEO at Ctrl Alt. “This achievement reflects our commitment to long-term regulatory alignment as we power the infrastructure for the next generation of financial products.”

“Securing our VARA license marks a pivotal moment not just for Ctrl Alt, but for the broader digital asset ecosystem in the region,” said Robert Farquhar, Head of MENA at Ctrl Alt. “Dubai’s progressive regulatory environment provides a strong foundation for innovation in tokenization and we’re proud to contribute to that vision by delivering secure, compliant tokenization infrastructure for real-world asset issuance.”

The Solana Foundation and Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority have signed an MOU to collaborate on not only helping founders navigate licensing through workshops, advisory sessions and practical guides but also supporting the creation of a virtual asset innovation hub in Dubai that will offer policy feedback and data sharing.

Additionally the two entities will work to develop talent, provide economic impact reports, as Dubai positions itself as a forward thinking crypto jurisdiction.

Solana Foundation on LinkedIn noted, “Dubai continues to position itself as one of the most forward-thinking crypto jurisdictions in the world. We’re proud to support that vision and help founders, teams and investors plug into this growing ecosystem.”

Dubai VARA also on LinkedIn added, “We’re proud to formalise our partnership with the Solana Foundation through a newly signed MoU by our CEO, Matthew White, and Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation. From regulatory education and talent development, to data-sharing and co-creating the Solana Economic Zone in Dubai – this partnership reinforces our commitment to building a transparent, innovation-first environment for the virtual assets sector.”

Earlier this week Dubai VARA also signed an agreement with Sui Hub for similar initiatives.

Ripple, an enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, RLUSD stablecoin has been approved as a recognized crypto token by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for use within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).


As per the press release, this approval reinforces RLUSD’s position as a trusted, enterprise-grade stablecoin, built with regulatory compliance, utility, and transparency at its core. Alongside today’s approval under the DFSA’s crypto token regime, RLUSD is one of the few stablecoins globally to be issued under a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Trust Company Charter.

“The DFSA’s approval of RLUSD is proof of our commitment to building a stablecoin that meets the highest standards of trust, transparency and utility,” said Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoins at Ripple. “With regulation-first design and enterprise-grade features, RLUSD is uniquely positioned to drive enterprise utility of blockchain technology across global markets, starting with cross-border payments.”

RLUSD has been purpose-built for global enterprise utility, particularly in improving the speed, cost and efficiency of cross-border payments. This recognition allows Ripple to integrate RLUSD into its DFSA-licensed flagship payments solution, combining the stability of a trusted digital dollar with a scalable, blockchain-based infrastructure and Ripple’s extensive global payout network.

This approval also enables other DFSA-licensed firms in the fast-growing DIFC to incorporate RLUSD into their virtual assets services. With almost 7,000 firms active at the end of 2024, this further supports the integration of high-quality stablecoins into Dubai’s burgeoning digital assets and fintech ecosystem.

Stablecoin adoption in the UAE is accelerating. According to market data, 2024 saw a 55% year-on-year increase in stablecoin transactions in the region, signalling strong demand for blockchain solutions that address the inefficiencies of traditional payment rails. With a $400BN+ market for international trade and one of the world’s most progressive regulatory frameworks for digital assets, the UAE is well-positioned to become a global hub for stablecoin innovation and utility.

“The UAE continues to set a global benchmark for forward-thinking digital asset regulation and innovation,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director Middle East and Africa (MEA) at Ripple. “The DFSA’s approval of RLUSD is yet another step forward for Ripple’s operations in the region, and we’re seeing huge interest from businesses of all sizes for cross-border payments and digital asset custody solutions. The UAE’s digital economy is vibrant and incredibly dynamic, and we’re looking forward to working with our regional partners, customers and regulators to supercharge that growth.”

Earlier this month Ripple onboarded UAE Zand Digital bank and Mamo, while it also was used in Dubai Land Department tokenization of property platform.

AMINA Bank AG, a global crypto bank licensed in Switzerland and the UAE, announced its financial performance for 2024, with 69% surge in revenue to $40.4 million with revenues from its Abu Dhabi operations growing 150% year on year and Hong Kong office accelerating 570%. Currently assets under management ( AUM) are $4.2 billion a 136% increase.

Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA Bank said, “Our global, client-first strategy has delivered exceptional results in 2024 and proves how the market responds when you put your clients at the center of your business. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s tenacity and focus, which led to quarterly profitability in Q4 2024 – a pivotal milestone that confirms the value of our approach. With our current group geographical footprint – spanning multiple jurisdictions, offering 24/7 trading capabilities, and maintaining zero default in our lending book over five years – we are uniquely prepared to support our clients through the fast-paced changes of the crypto industry.”

As per the press release, AMINA’s self-funded approach and operational excellence in the past three years has placed the bank at a sustainable competitive advantage delivering $801 million in net new assets (NNAs) in 2024 along with 40% growth in derivatives revenue driven by client demand for risk management solutions.

Significant technology investments have been made under the new CTO leadership to develop a proprietary crypto banking platform and a modern online and mobile experience, all launching later this year. Supported by a scalable and API-driven architecture, these platforms support B2C, B2B, and B2B2C models while delivering seamless secure client integration and rapid adaptability to market demands, ensuring both AMINA and its clients remain agile, as the industry continues to evolve.

“Our strong financial fundamentals underpin this exceptional growth trajectory, demonstrating our strength and agility to support our clients through any market conditions,” added Mike Foy, CFO of AMINA Bank. “AMINA’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio is 228%, up from 219% in 2023. In addition, our CET1 capital ratio, which compares a bank’s capital against its risk-weighted assets, is more than double the regulatory requirement at 34%, despite an increase in risk-weighted assets as a result of our expansion.”

With the acceleration of institutional adoption and demand for regulated solutions, AMINA has established itself as an essential infrastructure provider at crypto’s critical inflection point. AMINA Bank has attracted almost 20 B2B2C partners including some of Europe’s largest private banks, with expectations to reach 30 partners by year-end.

The Hashgraph Association a Swiss non-profit organization driving global adoption of Hedera-powered solutions by funding innovation, training, certification, and venture building programs, in collaboration with Exponential Science Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation accelerating responsible tech adoption, via research, education, and innovation activities, has launched the Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025 to enable the next generation of Web developers and empower economic inclusion in Africa with a digital future for all.

As per the press release, the Hackathon will be the biggest Web3 Hackathon initiative combines online participation with onsite events in over 20 African cities, with a goal of attracting over 10,000 participants across more than 15 countries on the African continent. Developers, students, and entrepreneurs are invited to collaborate to build decentralized solutions on Hedera across industries such as Finance, Healthcare, Telecoms, Sustainability, Agriculture, and Manufacturing, while leveraging the convergence of other deep technologies such as AI, IoT, Robotics, and Quantum Computing, with a prize pool of more than $1 million on offer for the winning teams and projects.

With global participation officially open from August 1 to September 30, 2025, the hackathon tasks applicants to develop blockchain/distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based, scalable solutions tailored to the continent’s most urgent challenges and needs. All solutions will be built on the Hedera network an energy-efficient and cost-effective DLT, which offers cost predictability, the highest levels of security, and the ability to support reliable, scalable, and enterprise-grade applications.

Already having secured the backing and participation of more than 50 global and regional partners to be announced over the next few weeks, as well as over 100 universities and tech hubs, the hackathon is designed to be the largest of its kind on the African continent. The event will offer extensive technical education, certification, and hands-on support from Hedera-Certified engineers, with hacking stations to be established in cities such as Lagos, Cairo, Nairobi, Kinshasa, Cape Town, Casablanca, and Tunis for in-person collaboration, alongside a fully virtual Hackathon track accessible worldwide.

“Africa is home to one of the youngest, most enthusiastic and dynamic tech communities in the world; its future will depend on digitization,” said Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association. “By equipping developers and entrepreneurs with Web3 skills and next generation toolkits, we’re not just solving today’s problems, we’re shaping the future of decentralized innovation in one of the world’s most significant growth markets, fostering a digital future for all through financial, identity, and communication inclusion.”

The hackathon aims to catalyze continuous innovation across four key tracks: On-Chain Finance and Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenisation; ESG Sustainability and Traceability; Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and AI; and Gaming, Metaverse, & NFTs.

Developers of all skill levels and backgrounds are encouraged to participate — no prior blockchain experience is required. Extensive training resources will be provided through the Hedera Academy, with access to a thriving developer community.

The Hashgraph Association and the Exponential Science Foundation will be carrying out awareness and training campaigns to prepare participants for the hackathon before the official start date on August 1st 2025.

 Initiatives such as the Hedera Africa Hackathon encourage the next generation of tech builders, researchers, and entrepreneurs. As well as driving blockchain education and innovation within a continent that is showing incredible growth potential. We encourage anyone with an interest in blockchain technology to sign up and start developing the next wave of practical solutions across multiple industries to gain valuable experience and a chance to claim the prize pool. Our hope is that participants will go on to launch their own ventures and share their learnings,” said Paolo Tasca, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Exponential Science Foundation.

The Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025 is operated and supported by a strong network of partners, under the experienced leadership of DAR Blockchain, a Tunisian-based Web3 Hub that has been operating in the Web3 industry since 2017. DAR Blockchain plays a significant role in magnifying the impact of this hackathon initiative across the continent and builds on THA’s previous efforts to support blockchain innovation in Africa.

UAE regulated Changer,a digital asset custodian and Bitgrit, a global startup working to democratize AI who recently registered their DLT Foundation at ADGM, have partnered to advance the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), to unlock new frontiers for “AI-on-chain” technology.

Changer, known for its ultra-secure custody platform for managing digital money and assets, will join forces with Bitgrit, which leverages its global network of over 40,000 AI developers to enable companies to crowdsource and license innovative AI solutions. Together, they aim to power a decentralized AI economy where developers, enterprises, and institutions can securely build, monetize, and trade AI models on the blockchain, right here in Abu Dhabi.

Wang Hao, CEO of Changer, stated, “This is a pivotal moment. Changer is dedicated to supporting ADGM’s DLT Foundation – the world’s first comprehensive framework for blockchain foundations, DAOs, and Web3 entities. We provide secure, regulated digital asset custody and a seamless infrastructure for tokenized ecosystems. With Bitgrit, we are forging new standards for transparency, efficiency, and global cooperation in the digital age.”

The partnership will initially see Changer provide custody services for Bitgrit’s native BGR tokens. It will then expand to secure AI models and datasets tokenized on Bitgrit’s BGR Network. This capability is crucial for creating smooth and secure interactions between traditional finance, cryptocurrency, and the burgeoning AI economy, boosting security, transparency, and worldwide appeal.

Kazuya Saginawa, CEO of Bitgrit, underscored the partnership’s strategic vision, “Teaming up with Changer is a game-changer for Bitgrit. Their trusted custody solutions allow us to confidently scale our decentralized AI ecosystem and position Bitgrit as a pioneer in the AI-on-chain revolution. This alliance solidifies our mission to securely bring advanced AI onto the blockchain, which will create immense value for developers, businesses, and investors across the globe.”

The event also served as an official announcement for the launch of the BGR Network by Bitgrit’s COO Saksham Kukreja. The BGR Network is a purpose-built blockchain ecosystem for AI applications. It allows AI models and datasets to be securely tokenized, owned, and traded on-chain, offering unprecedented transparency, ownership, and monetization avenues for AI creators and enterprises. Its ability to connect with other established blockchain systems makes it a pioneering infrastructure for the next wave of AI development.

Saksham Kukreja COO of Bitgrit added, “Our collaboration with Changer is fundamental to establishing a trusted, secure, and regulatory-compliant AI economy on the blockchain. This is not only a major achievement for Bitgrit but also a compelling example for the global Web3 community of how regulated partnerships in progressive jurisdictions like ADGM can catalyze sustainable and truly impactful innovation.”

The cooperation between these two regulated firms within ADGM underscores how supportive regulatory environments can powerfully drive innovation, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in the advancement of blockchain and artificial intelligence.

In a show of its intention to enter the MENA region Flipster, a cryptocurrency trading platform, has appointed a regional head to drive innovation in this high-potential market.

Previously an executive at Rain crypto exchange licensed in UAE and Bahrain, Benjamin Grolimund, is now the General Manager of the UAE at Flipster.
Grolimund brings nearly two decades of experience scaling business operations and driving compliant digital assets innovation in the region. Prior to this, Ben was the founder and CEO of Finally Technologies, and the Regional Head of MEA at Bloomberg.

Appointed as General Manager of the UAE, Benjamin will oversee the firm’s business and operational strategies in the region. His appointment comes at a pivotal growth phase for Flipster, reinforcing its commitment to providing traders of all experience levels with seamless, global access to crypto trading.

Expanding into the Middle East marks a natural progression in Flipster’s global strategy, driven by the region’s strong demand for digital assets and a highly engaged, informed investor base. This move builds on the platform’s performance in 2024, which included an 856% increase in trading volume across existing markets. With Benjamin’s leadership, Flipster is well-positioned to support the region’s growing digital asset ecosystem and confidently execute its vision for strategic expansion in this high-growth market.

“Joining Flipster at this pivotal moment is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a bold vision for the future of digital asset trading,” said Benjamin Grolimund, General Manager of the UAE at Flipster. “The Middle East’s progressive regulatory environment and commitment to financial innovation provide an ideal foundation for responsible growth. My focus will be on establishing a strong, compliant, and operationally sound presence in the region—ensuring we build with integrity, safety, and long-term scalability. I’m proud to be part of a team that is setting new standards in the industry and driving the next phase of global expansion.”

As per the press release, Flipster’s expansion into the Middle East signals its commitment to work with regulators, industry partners, and the broader community. This move aims to shape the future of digital assets while ensuring traders worldwide stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market, all while maintaining the highest standards of compliance in the region.

Flipster offers over 350 trading pairs across spot and perpetual futures markets, Flipster combines zero trading fees, tight spreads, and up to 100x leverage to give users a powerful edge in any market condition. Users can trade and earn simultaneously—with USDT used for trading continuing to earn APR rewards—maximizing capital efficiency without sacrificing execution.