Coinbase Gets Abu Dhabi Approval for Tokenization Hub

Coinbase has received regulatory approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market to establish an international tokenization hub in the United Arab Emirates capital. The license, granted on August 11, 2026, allows the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange to arrange investment deals and provide custody for tokenized securities that are fully backed by real underlying stocks.

The Financial Services Permission enables Coinbase to launch a platform where tokenized securities registered and issued within ADGM will be fully backed by actual equity shares under FSRA supervision. Verified token holders will receive full shareholder rights, including dividends and voting privileges. A key feature of the service is accessibility; investors will not need a traditional brokerage account or correspondent banking relationship to participate, only a cryptocurrency wallet. All transfers will be subject to ongoing sanctions screening, and Coinbase stated it can freeze or seize assets at the wallet level where required by regulation.

Brett Tejpaul, Co-CEO of Coinbase Institutional, said the approval represents a significant regulatory milestone. "No major...