UAE Central Bank Expands Crypto Oversight Under New Law
- UAE Central Bank gains authority over crypto with new law.
- The law requires comprehensive crypto licensing.
- Major fines for non-compliance with licensing rules.
The UAE has introduced a significant banking decree, empowering the Central Bank with extensive supervisory roles over crypto firms starting November 2025, aiming to strengthen its status as a global crypto leader.
This expansive regulatory move seeks to enhance compliance, attract institutional trust, and foster innovation, potentially establishing the UAE as a premier compliant crypto hub amid the evolving global financial landscape.
Introduction
The inclusion of digital assets under the central bank’s purview aims to boost institutional confidence in the UAE as a global crypto hub. Regulatory enhancements seek to foster responsible innovation while securing financial integrity.
Implications for the Crypto Industry
The law prompts a change in how crypto businesses operate by embedding them into existing financial oversight, thus creating avenues for new business opportunities while promoting stakeholder trust in the sector.
Industry and Market Reactions
Initial reactions among crypto projects and developers appear cautious yet adaptive, with initiatives preparing to comply within the provided timeframe. However, some uncertainty lingers about the impact on decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems.
Potential outcomes include tighter control over DeFi protocols and greater coherence across markets, mirroring efforts in other jurisdictions like the EU’s MiCA. The law’s comprehensive scope could attract new investments, steadily positioning UAE as a compliant global crypto destination.
