Circle has achieved a major regulatory victory in the UAE, securing a Financial Services Authorization (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Key points to remember:
- Circle has obtained an ADGM license to operate USDC services under full regulatory oversight.
- This approval reinforces Abu Dhabi’s drive to become a global hub for regulated digital assets.
- Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar to lead regional expansion and drive USDC adoption.
The approval allows Circle to operate as a fully regulated money services provider within the UAE Capital Market Free Zone, the company said in a press release on Tuesday.
Circle Gains Full Regulatory Entry into Fast-Growing Crypto Hub UAE
The license grants Circle the ability to offer regulated USDC-related payment, settlement and digital asset services, giving the company a formal operational presence within one of the world’s fastest-growing centers for compliant crypto activity.
The move comes as the UAE continues to position itself as a global hub for digital asset regulation, with ADGM leading efforts to attract businesses seeking clear rules for fiat-referenced tokens and tokenized financial services.
As part of its expansion, Circle has appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Jaffar, currently a senior executive at Visa overseeing the GCC region, will join Circle to guide its strategy, build regional partnerships and promote broader adoption of USDC in commercial payments and financial infrastructure in the UAE and beyond.
“Regulatory clarity is the foundation of a more open and efficient Internet financial system. We are honored to work with the FSRA in the ADGM,” said Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle.
With the license in hand, Circle plans to expand the regulated use of USDC in enterprise payments, settlement channels, and developer infrastructure across the region.
The announcement also follows Dubai’s earlier recognition of USDC and EURC under the DFSA’s crypto token regime, giving Circle a regulatory footing in the UAE’s two main financial zones.
Stablecoins have also increased in mainstream adoption since President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law in July, establishing a federal framework for their issuance and oversight.
The law’s passage sparked a wave of new stable initiatives from major financial institutions, including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and Robinhood.
Tether and Binance obtain regulatory approval in ADGM
As noted, Tether’s USDT stablecoin has also gained regulatory recognition as an approved fiat-referenced token on a wide range of blockchains within the ADGM.
Tether said the ADGM now allows licensed financial free zone institutions to conduct regulated activities involving USDT on Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON and TRON.
These approvals extend to the previous recognition of USDT on Ethereum, Solana and Avalanche.
On Monday, Binance revealed that it had also obtained full authorization to operate its flagship platform Binance.com under the supervision of the ADGM, a significant step that comes after years of regulatory scrutiny.
Binance will operate through three separate legal entities in the zone, an exchange, a clearing house and a broker-dealer, reflecting a traditional financial market structure designed to enable regulated trading, custody, settlement and off-exchange services.
The article Circle Wins Full ADGM License to Expand USDC Across the UAE appeared first on Cryptonews.
