UAE DIFC Courts to offer digital-asset custody and advanced analytics services in complex cases

UAE’s Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts has opened specialized services for complex cases, with digital custodian and blockchain intelligence capabilities being offered via third party service providers, offering secure digital-asset custody and advanced analytics, under the newly launched DIFC Courts Growth Strategy (2026–2030).

As per the announcement, these emerging technology services will be considered for cases that provide sufficient proof of necessity and will join a growing set of additional unique digital economy-related services under review by Dubai’s common law jurisdiction.

DIFC is using these digital asset custody and analytics to offer a principle and practical justice. By offering optional secure digital-asset custody and advanced analytics for specific and relevant claims, the DIFC Courts aims to further demonstrate that proceedings maintain the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and technological rigor.

The services will be offered by third parties, both Zodia Custody and Crystal Intelligence.

Zodia Custody will provide secure, neutral custody for disputed assets during proceedings, while Crystal Intelligence, a recognized blockchain analytics and crypto-risk platform, will offer on-demand tracing, monitoring, and investigative support to aid case management, compliance, and enforcement across complex digital-asset matters.

Zane Suren, Managing Director, Commercial, Middle East and Africa, Zodia Custody, explained “As digital assets become more widely adopted, Zodia Custody welcomes the DIFC Courts’ integration of specialized digital custody and blockchain intelligence services for legal disputes. Zodia Custody welcomes the DIFC Courts’ engagement with digital asset service providers and is proud to further expand its presence in the UAE.

Crystal Intelligence provides investigative and compliance tooling for transaction monitoring, multi-hop asset tracing, sanctions/high-risk wallet screening, and visualization of fund flows across public blockchains.

This new service will be applied on a case-by-case basis and will support the oversight of the Digital Assets Wills service, as well as delivering specialised training and certification to DIFC Courts staff.

Navin Gupta, CEO, Crystal Intelligence, said, “Our on-demand tracing, monitoring, and investigative capabilities will help the Court uphold the highest standards of fairness and efficiency when adjudicating digital asset disputes. We are committed to enhancing the integrity, transparency, and technological rigour that users of this world-class judicial institution expect.”

DIFC Courts further develops the safeguard of assets and data verification in courts cases

H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director, DIFC Courts, noted, “By reviewing and permitting the use of third-party providers for niche dispute requirements, we are further enabling the safeguarding of assets, data verification, and supporting court users with a level of assurance aligned with international best practice. This step further strengthens the Court’s ability to resolve complex digital-asset cases efficiently, securely, and with the confidence expected of a world- class judicial institution.”

These initiatives are designed to deliver greater trust, transparency and procedural integrity in cases involving cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets, supporting the DIFC Courts and its specialised divisions. In line with recent DIFC Courts’ innovation milestones, the new service options will augment case handling from asset preservation to risk oversight and evidence-led investigation.

These engagements represent a material step in strengthening the DIFC Courts’ capabilities in processing digital asset-related disputes and inheritance matters.

Within the coming years, the DIFC Courts will continue to undertake a structured evaluation process, assessing multiple potential third party providers, with a view to ensuring that any selected providers meet the standards of neutrality, security, and institutional credibility expected of the courts.

This announcement comes after a series of legal battles between Techteryx, which operates the stablecoin TrueUSD, who had invested $456 million of the cryptocurrency’s reserves in the Aria Commodity Finance Fund (ACFF) between 2020 and 2022, UAE based Al Tamimi & Company legal firm was able to secure a worldwide freezing order from DIFC Courts’ Digital Economy Court to preserve up to $456 million.

DIFC Courts has been hearing crypto cases for the past three years, and is setting precedents in this ecosystem.