VARA has updated its rulebook, allowing staking from custody services in Dubai.
The step boosts the Emirate's attractiveness as a new global crypto hub.
The skyline of Dubai
In a
significant move to expand the scope of virtual asset services in the Emirate
of Dubai, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has published a revised
Custody Services Rulebook. The updated regulations permit staking from custody
services, provided that the prescribed requirements of the amended rulebook are
met. This change allows Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to offer
staking without requiring a separate license for VA Management and Investment
Services.
Crypto Staking Is Now
Available in Dubai through Custody Services
VARA, the authority
responsible for regulating crypto services in Dubai (excluding the Dubai
International Financial Centre), has significantly changed its current
legislation. This amendment allows VASPs licensed as custodians to provide
staking services to their customers from the same legal entity. The provision
of this additional service will not require a separate license for VA
Management and Investment Services but will necessitate specific additional
approval from VARA.
Furthermore,
additional licensing and supervision fees will be payable in connection with
the provision of this new service. This move aligns with the Emirate's broader
strategy to foster innovation and growth in the financial technology sector,
ensuring that regulations are in place to maintain integrity and consumer protection
within the crypto space.
Crypto staking is a process that involves holding a specific cryptocurrency in a digital wallet to support the operations of a blockchain network. It's a form of proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, where the creator of the next block is chosen based on the number of coins held and staked.
It allows individuals to earn additional income by participating in the validation process of transactions in the crypto ecosystem.
From Oil to Crypto
Once entirely
dependent on oil, Dubai now has very limited reserves. Therefore, it has begun
preparations for economic transformation, just like the rest of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), focusing its economy on other sources of income. As a result,
Dubai's GDP is now only 5% dependent on liquid gold. One step towards
independence from oil extraction was the introduction of the first regulations
governing the cryptocurrency market in 2022 and the creation of VARA.
Regulatory
tensions in other parts of the world, including the USA and Europe, have led to
increasing cryptocurrency companies moving to the UAE and Dubai. It cites very
favorable tax conditions and stability, as well as the transparency of local
regulations. The possibility of crypto staking is an additional nod and
incentive towards them.
According
to Alex Chehade, the General Manager of Binance Dubai, the UAE could become the
primary destination for cryptocurrency businesses seeking favorable and
transparent regulations.
Binance and Major Crypto
Exchanges Are Now in Dubai
Last month,
Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, obtained an
operational license for crypto services in Dubai. This week, Komainu, a custody
service provider for crypto assets, announced obtaining a similar license.
"Dubai
has a vibrant digital asset ecosystem and impressive talent pool, and we are
proud to contribute to the growth of this innovative financial hub. Our
presence and desirable regulatory status in the region marks another
differentiator for us as we execute the next phase of our business," Sebastian
Widmann, the Head of Strategy at Komainu, commented.
The local
market also seems to hold substantial promise, as evidenced by retail
investors' enthusiasm in trading activities. The increasing count of engaged
traders in the UAE's FX/CFDs market underscores this trend, with Investment
Trends reporting that the number of traders in these financial instruments
hit an all-time high of 49,000 in 2023.
Source: Investment Trends
In addition
to Binance and Komainu, other leading cryptocurrency companies such as Bitget,
ByBit, and OKX have sought local licenses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This movement reflects a broader pattern among digital asset exchanges to
establish a foothold in the UAE. In a related development, OKX has recently
joined forces with Komainu to enhance the security of institutional crypto
trading.
In a
significant move to expand the scope of virtual asset services in the Emirate
of Dubai, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has published a revised
Custody Services Rulebook. The updated regulations permit staking from custody
services, provided that the prescribed requirements of the amended rulebook are
met. This change allows Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to offer
staking without requiring a separate license for VA Management and Investment
Services.
Crypto Staking Is Now
Available in Dubai through Custody Services
VARA, the authority
responsible for regulating crypto services in Dubai (excluding the Dubai
International Financial Centre), has significantly changed its current
legislation. This amendment allows VASPs licensed as custodians to provide
staking services to their customers from the same legal entity. The provision
of this additional service will not require a separate license for VA
Management and Investment Services but will necessitate specific additional
approval from VARA.
Furthermore,
additional licensing and supervision fees will be payable in connection with
the provision of this new service. This move aligns with the Emirate's broader
strategy to foster innovation and growth in the financial technology sector,
ensuring that regulations are in place to maintain integrity and consumer protection
within the crypto space.
Crypto staking is a process that involves holding a specific cryptocurrency in a digital wallet to support the operations of a blockchain network. It's a form of proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, where the creator of the next block is chosen based on the number of coins held and staked.
It allows individuals to earn additional income by participating in the validation process of transactions in the crypto ecosystem.
From Oil to Crypto
Once entirely
dependent on oil, Dubai now has very limited reserves. Therefore, it has begun
preparations for economic transformation, just like the rest of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), focusing its economy on other sources of income. As a result,
Dubai's GDP is now only 5% dependent on liquid gold. One step towards
independence from oil extraction was the introduction of the first regulations
governing the cryptocurrency market in 2022 and the creation of VARA.
Regulatory
tensions in other parts of the world, including the USA and Europe, have led to
increasing cryptocurrency companies moving to the UAE and Dubai. It cites very
favorable tax conditions and stability, as well as the transparency of local
regulations. The possibility of crypto staking is an additional nod and
incentive towards them.
According
to Alex Chehade, the General Manager of Binance Dubai, the UAE could become the
primary destination for cryptocurrency businesses seeking favorable and
transparent regulations.
Binance and Major Crypto
Exchanges Are Now in Dubai
Last month,
Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, obtained an
operational license for crypto services in Dubai. This week, Komainu, a custody
service provider for crypto assets, announced obtaining a similar license.
"Dubai
has a vibrant digital asset ecosystem and impressive talent pool, and we are
proud to contribute to the growth of this innovative financial hub. Our
presence and desirable regulatory status in the region marks another
differentiator for us as we execute the next phase of our business," Sebastian
Widmann, the Head of Strategy at Komainu, commented.
The local
market also seems to hold substantial promise, as evidenced by retail
investors' enthusiasm in trading activities. The increasing count of engaged
traders in the UAE's FX/CFDs market underscores this trend, with Investment
Trends reporting that the number of traders in these financial instruments
hit an all-time high of 49,000 in 2023.
Source: Investment Trends
In addition
to Binance and Komainu, other leading cryptocurrency companies such as Bitget,
ByBit, and OKX have sought local licenses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This movement reflects a broader pattern among digital asset exchanges to
establish a foothold in the UAE. In a related development, OKX has recently
joined forces with Komainu to enhance the security of institutional crypto
trading.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
Binance Junior Puts Crypto in Young Hands, but Keeps the Wallet with Mom and Dad
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
