Animoca Brands Secures Final Abu Dhabi Fund Management Approval
The crypto firm gains regulatory clearance to manage collective investment funds in ADGM.
1Regulatory Milestone Achieved
Animoca Brands has officially secured final approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market. This permission allows its subsidiary, Animoca Asset Management, to operate collective investment funds. The milestone follows an in-principle approval granted in November 2025, marking the completion of a rigorous two-stage regulatory compliance process.
2Strategic Expansion Timeline
The transition from conditional to final approval took approximately eleven months for Animoca. This timeline is notably faster than eToro, which required fourteen months to secure its full license for securities and crypto assets within the same zone. The company now joins a growing ecosystem of asset managers operating under ADGM oversight.
3ADGM Market Growth Context
The Abu Dhabi Global Market has seen a 23% increase in the number of fund and asset managers, reaching 190 by the end of June. During the first half of 2026, the regulator granted 45 permissions across various categories. This growth highlights the zone's rising prominence as a hub for institutional financial services.
4Dual UAE Regulatory Footprint
This Abu Dhabi license represents Animoca's second regulated foothold in the UAE this year. In February, the firm secured a license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority for broker-dealer and management services. These dual authorizations allow the company to serve institutional and qualified investors across both major UAE financial free zones effectively.
5Institutional Capital Integration
Arvind Ramamurthy of ADGM noted that Animoca's entry strengthens connections between institutional capital and digital assets. The firm joins other notable entities like Nomura’s Laser Digital, which secured similar broker-dealer and asset management permissions in 2024. This trend reflects a broader shift toward integrating crypto-native firms into traditional financial regulatory frameworks.
6Portfolio and Asset Scope
Animoca Brands maintains a significant portfolio, reporting stakes in over 600 companies and digital assets, including The Sandbox and the Moca Network. While the company has not yet disclosed the specific name or target size of its new investment fund, the license provides the necessary legal structure to manage such capital.
7Comparative Regulatory Landscape
The Abu Dhabi Global Market currently hosts 423 active licenses, remaining smaller than Dubai's financial free zone, which holds 4,176 licenses under the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Despite the scale difference, ADGM's specialized focus on digital assets continues to attract high-profile crypto firms seeking robust, clear regulatory environments for their institutional operations.
8Future Operational Impact
Minh Do, senior executive officer at the asset management unit, emphasized that this permission is a critical step for Middle East operations. By operating under a robust regulatory framework, Animoca can now scale its fund management activities. This development signals a maturation of the firm's business model toward regulated institutional investment management.