Galaxy Digital opens Abu Dhabi ADGM entity as UAE accelerates crypto approvals
Galaxy Digital has established a new Abu Dhabi entity under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) as part of a strategic push to expand digital-asset investment, infrastructure and institutional services in the Middle East. CEO Mike Novogratz and managing director Bouchra Darwazah said the move aims to deepen regional partnerships and meet rising institutional demand. The expansion follows Galaxy’s strong Q3 2025 performance and recent investment activity, including participation in a planned Solana treasury fund alongside Cantor Fitzgerald, Multicoin Capital and Jump Crypto. The timing aligns with accelerated regulatory approvals in the UAE: ADGM and Dubai regulators have recently authorised major exchanges (including Binance and Bybit), recognised Tether’s fiat-referenced token across many chains and cleared stablecoin deployments and operations for firms such as Circle. Binance disclosed full ADGM authorisation across exchange, clearing house and broker-dealer entities, enabling regulated trading, custody and settlement services. Galaxy says the Abu Dhabi office will support institutional client services, investment activity and portfolio companies while helping capture opportunities from sophisticated regional investors as the UAE positions itself as a regulated crypto hub.
Neutral
The news is largely strategic and regulatory rather than product-specific price news, so direct immediate price pressure on a single cryptocurrency is limited. Galaxy’s Abu Dhabi ADGM entity strengthens institutional access, regional distribution and service capabilities—factors that support long-term capital inflows into the crypto sector. Short-term market reaction is likely muted: institution-focused expansions typically boost confidence and infrastructure (a positive for assets tied to institutional demand, like SOL given Galaxy’s participation in a Solana treasury fund), but they do not create immediate on-chain supply shocks or protocol changes that drive rapid price moves. Regulatory approvals in the UAE reduce jurisdictional risk and can increase trading volumes and institutional flows over time; that is constructive for market liquidity and adoption but not an immediate bullish catalyst for a specific token. Therefore, the expected net impact on the mentioned cryptocurrencies is neutral to modestly positive over the medium term, with potential longer-term bullish implications if institutional participation scales.