Bitcoin Suisse wins Abu Dhabi license, bringing $3.7B in custody to UAE

Bitcoin Suisse received a financial services license from Abu Dhabi Global Market, granting the Swiss crypto firm regulated access to one of the Middle East's fastest-growing digital asset hubs.

"The authorization reflects more than a decade of experience building resilient infrastructure, risk frameworks, and trusted client relationships," Ceyda Majcen, chief executive officer of BTCS Middle East, said.

The Financial Services Permission from the Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority enables BTCS Middle East to offer institutional-grade custody, trading and digital asset exposure management to professional clients across the UAE. Bitcoin Suisse currently safeguards $3.7 billion in crypto assets and ranks as the world's fourth-largest staking operator, according to the company. The Zug-based firm employs more than 200 people across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the UAE and Bermuda.

The license positions Bitcoin Suisse to capture a share of the UAE's growing institutional crypto market as the region competes with Singapore and Hong Kong to attract digital asset firms. BTCS Middle East also plans to offer access to tokenized real-world assets as the market develops.

Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM, said Bitcoin Suisse's expansion underscores the strength and maturity of Abu Dhabi's digital asset ecosystem, which continues to attract global institutions seeking regulatory clarity and long-term growth opportunities.

The FSP marks the completion of a multi-stage licensing process that began earlier this year. Bitcoin Suisse first announced its Middle East expansion plans in April 2026, when it established its Abu Dhabi subsidiary. The approval adds to the firm's existing regulatory footprint, which includes licenses in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and follows a separate licensing win from a European regulator in June.

Founded in 2013, Bitcoin Suisse has operated through multiple crypto market cycles, building a client base that includes institutional investors, digital asset foundations, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. The firm's proprietary infrastructure and relationship-manager model differentiate it from larger, less personalized competitors in the region.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.