Kraken parent Payward gets full UAE regulatory approval to launch
Image: Crypto.newsDubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) granted Payward FZCO full market approval, clearing Kraken to serve UAE clients in the coming weeks. The approval classifies Payward as a regulated virtual asset service provider covering broker-dealer, investment and management services for all client types. At launch, UAE users can trade spot and margin AED-denominated pairs, stake assets, use direct dirham deposits and withdrawals, and access institutional trading via Kraken Prime. Derivatives and yield products are planned for 2026 and 2027 pending further VARA sign-off. Payward holds more than 100 global licenses.
Key points
- Dubai's VARA granted Payward FZCO full market approval for UAE crypto operations.
- The approval covers broker-dealer, investment and management services for all client types.
- UAE clients can trade AED-denominated spot and margin pairs with direct dirham deposits and withdrawals at launch.
- Institutional clients get OTC trading and Kraken Prime access at launch.
- Payward plans to roll out derivatives and yield products in 2026 and 2027 pending further regulatory approval.
Why it matters
The approval lets Kraken offer regulated crypto services to UAE retail, professional and institutional users, expanding its global licensed footprint. It adds a regulated regional crypto venue for users in the UAE market.
What's unclear
Exact date for UAE client onboarding is not specified in either report
Sources · 3 publishers
Crypto.news
Tier 2
Kraken parent Payward secures full Dubai license for UAE crypto launch
Blockonomi
Tier 3
Kraken UAE Launch Nears as Payward Secures Full VARA Approval
Coverage timeline
- First reported by Crypto Briefing
- Confirmed by Crypto.news
- CryptoVideos brief published
- 1 more publisher added to sources
How this brief was made. Our system found this event in 3 independent publications, summarised two complete reports with AI and checked every number above against the source text. Sources are linked in full. Not financial advice. Report an error
