Circle Secures Full ADGM License for USDC Services

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has received full regulatory approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority to operate as a Money Services Provider, marking a significant expansion of stablecoin services in one of the world's leading financial free zones. The license, announced on December 9, 2025, during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, allows Circle to provide regulated payments, settlements, custody, and brokerage tied to USDC for businesses and institutions within the ADGM jurisdiction.

This approval follows preliminary clearance granted in April and builds on earlier recognition of USDC and its euro-backed counterpart, EURC, under Dubai's Financial Services Authority regime earlier in the year. With the new permission, Circle can now support wholesale cross-border transactions, treasury operations, and institutional-grade compliance, enabling regional firms to settle payments in seconds rather than days. As part of its Middle East strategy, Circle appointed Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, a senior executive at Visa, as managing director for the Middle East and Africa region to foster partnerships and promote USDC...