Swiss crypto bank Bitcoin Suisse clinched an in-principle approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, clearing a path to a full license in the United Arab Emirates.
The green light, granted to subsidiary BTCS (Middle East), would let the firm offer trading, derivatives, and custody services under local oversight once final conditions are met.
Ceyda Majcen, head of global expansion, said Abu Dhabi’s “fast-growing financial center presents a compelling opportunity,” stressing the company’s pledge to maintain “the highest standards of transparency, security, and regulatory compliance.”
Middle East attracts crypto heavyweights
Circle, issuer of USDC, earned a similar preliminary approval in late April.
Stacks Asia followed with a partnership that makes it the first Bitcoin-focused organization formally housed in the region.
Executives say the Middle East’s blend of progressive regulation, ample capital, and strategic location is turning the area into the next global crypto hub.
Bitcoin Suisse hopes to ride that wave, extending services beyond Europe’s “Crypto Valley”—a Swiss blockchain cluster valued above $500 billion—where it has operated since 2013.
Framework fosters broader ambitions
Once fully licensed, Bitcoin Suisse intends to layer structured products and staking services on top of its trading and custody suite, aiming to capture institutional clients across the Gulf.
Analysts note that the move diversifies revenue streams ahead of MiCA’s full rollout in the European Economic Area, which could tighten rules on leverage and token listings.