Hong Kong-based blockchain and gaming giant Animoca Brands has secured a broker-dealer and digital asset license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the company announced on February 17, 2026. The dual license allows Animoca to operate regulated trading, brokerage, and digital asset services in the emirate, marking a significant expansion into one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto and Web3 hubs.

The approval positions Animoca Brands as one of the first major global blockchain companies to obtain full VARA licensing for both broker-dealer activities (facilitating trades in virtual assets) and broader digital asset services (including custody, advisory, and potentially tokenized product issuance). The license comes under Dubai’s comprehensive virtual asset regime, which emphasizes investor protection, AML/CFT compliance, market integrity, and transparent operations.

Strategic Significance for Animoca Brands

Yat Siu, Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, commented: “Dubai continues to lead as a forward-thinking jurisdiction for Web3 and digital assets. This license enables us to bring our expertise in blockchain gaming, NFTs, tokenized economies, and decentralized infrastructure directly to the Middle East — a region with tremendous growth potential and strong institutional interest.”

The move aligns with Animoca’s multi-year strategy of geographic diversification beyond Asia:

• Building regulated on-ramps for retail and institutional users in the Middle East
• Expanding partnerships with local sovereign funds, family offices, and gaming studios
• Leveraging Dubai’s tax advantages, talent pool, and crypto-friendly policies
• Strengthening its position in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), play-to-earn ecosystems, and metaverse-related projects

Animoca already maintains a strong presence in Hong Kong and has been active in tokenized gaming assets, NFT marketplaces, and blockchain investments across Asia. The Dubai license adds a regulated foothold in the MENA region, where crypto adoption is accelerating rapidly.

Dubai’s Growing Role as a Crypto Hub

VARA — established in 2022 — has become one of the most respected and efficient virtual asset regulators globally. The authority has licensed dozens of platforms (including Binance, Crypto.com, Bybit, and OKX subsidiaries) and overseen billions in tokenized securities and stablecoin activity. Dubai’s framework emphasizes:

• Clear licensing pathways for exchanges, custodians, brokers, and issuers
• Mandatory reserve audits and proof-of-reserves for stablecoins
• Strong investor protection rules
• Tax-free treatment for most crypto activities

The emirate’s ambitions to become the “crypto capital of the Middle East” are backed by government initiatives, free-zone incentives, and partnerships with global firms — making it an attractive base for companies seeking regulated access to emerging markets.

Market Context

The license arrives during a prolonged crypto market correction (Bitcoin near $67,585, total market cap below $2.4 trillion), yet institutional and corporate players continue strategic expansions. Animoca’s Dubai move joins recent regional developments, including:

• Multiple exchanges securing VARA licenses
• Growing tokenized asset activity (e.g., real estate, funds, commodities)
• Increased sovereign and institutional interest in regulated Web3 infrastructure

For the broader industry, this signals continued maturation: even in bear markets, leading firms are investing in regulated footholds to prepare for the next adoption wave.

What to Watch Next

• Animoca’s launch timeline for Dubai-based services (trading, brokerage, custody)
• Any new tokenized gaming or RWA products tied to the license
• Partnerships with local entities (gaming studios, family offices, sovereign funds)
• Impact on Animoca’s overall geographic diversification and revenue streams

Animoca Brands’ Dubai broker-dealer and digital asset license strengthens the Middle East’s credentials as a rising crypto hub and underscores the company’s long-term commitment to regulated, compliant Web3 expansion. As Asia and the MENA region converge on blockchain innovation, expect more cross-border moves like this in the months ahead.

CoinReporter will follow Animoca’s Dubai rollout and its implications for the regional ecosystem. Stay tuned.