Animoca Manufacturers has secured a Digital Asset Service Supplier (VASP) license from Dubai’s Digital Belongings Regulatory Authority (VARA), clearing the way in which for the corporate to broaden its crypto operations throughout the Center East.
The license permits the Hong Kong-founded Web3 investor and platform developer to supply broker-dealer providers and funding administration associated to digital property in and from Dubai, excluding the Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre, in accordance with a Monday announcement. The providers are aimed primarily at institutional and certified traders.
“This licence enhances our potential to have interaction with Web3 foundations in addition to world institutional and certified traders inside a well-regulated framework,” mentioned Omar Elassar, managing director for the Center East and head of worldwide strategic partnerships at Animoca Manufacturers.
VARA, established in March 2022, is answerable for regulating and overseeing the supply, use and trade of digital property throughout Dubai’s mainland and free zones.
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Animoca to serve institutional traders in Dubai
VARA’s public register exhibits that the license was issued on Feb. 5. It permits the corporate to serve institutional and certified traders underneath VARA’s oversight.
Animoca Manufacturers develops blockchain platforms and helps Web3 ecosystems, together with The Sandbox, Open Campus and Moca Community, whereas additionally backing early-stage initiatives. The corporate says its funding portfolio spans greater than 600 corporations and digital-asset initiatives.
In January, Animoca Manufacturers acquired gaming and digital collectibles firm Somo, including Somo’s playable and tradable collectibles to its broader portfolio of blockchain-based initiatives.
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Crypto corporations develop operations in Dubai
The transfer provides to a rising checklist of crypto companies establishing regulated operations in Dubai. In October 2025, digital asset infrastructure firm BitGo additionally obtained a broker-dealer license from Dubai’s VARA, permitting its Center East and North Africa unit to offer regulated digital-asset buying and selling and intermediation providers to institutional shoppers within the emirate.
The approval got here after VARA mentioned it had issued monetary penalties in opposition to 19 corporations for “unlicensed” Digital Asset actions and “breaches of VARA’s Advertising and marketing Rules.”
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