Finance11 August, 20262 min read
Coinbase Secures FSRA License in Abu Dhabi Global Market to Launch Tokenization Hub
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Coinbase secures FSRA license from Abu Dhabi Global Market to launch tokenization hub. License enables investment-dealing intermediation and custody services in Abu Dhabi.
Coinbase picks Abu Dhabi
Coinbase said it secured a Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) license in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to set up an international tokenization hub in Abu Dhabi under the ADGM regulatory framework. Blockchain News described the hub as a way to tokenize global securities for wallet users, expanding onchain finance from the UAE.
CoinDesk reported Coinbase received the Financial Services Permit from the ADGM FSRA, allowing it to manage investment arrangements and provide custody for tokenized securities. CoinDesk added that Coinbase plans to use the license to offer digital securities backed by underlying shares, with the tokens registered and issued in ADGM under FSRA supervision.
How the tokenized securities work
Bitcoin World said the FSRA permission allows Coinbase to provide investment-dealing intermediation and custody services within the jurisdiction, laying groundwork for a dedicated offshore securities token hub in Abu Dhabi. Bitcoin World stated that securities tokens registered and issued under ADGM will be fully backed by actual shares, with token holders entitled to shareholder rights such as dividends and voting.
Bitcoin World also said the service is designed to operate without the need for a brokerage account or correspondent bank, with investors participating using only a digital wallet. Bitcoin World added that all transfers are subject to sanctions screening, and where required by regulation, assets can be frozen or seized at the wallet level.
UAE footprint and market signals
CoinDesk said the Abu Dhabi operation will sit alongside Coinbase’s derivatives business in Dubai, giving it two bases in the UAE to expand its business beyond the United States. CoinDesk tied the move to earlier activity in the region, including that in 2023 Coinbase’s asset management arm launched Project Diamond to enable institutional investors to issue and trade digital debt instruments using Base.
CoinDesk also reported that last month Mubadala Capital tokenized one of its private market investment strategies through KAIO on blockchain, including Base, with Coinbase itself taking exposure to the fund. Crypto Briefing framed the FSRA approval as a supportive factor for market perception, noting that in prediction markets the likelihood of Base launching a token by December 31, 2026 is currently priced at 9.5% YES.