🏛️ A Fully Regulated Foothold in One of the World’s Fastest-Growing Digital Finance Hubs

The announcement — shared directly by Circle in its official X post — confirms that the company has secured a Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi Global Market.

The license authorizes Circle to operate as a regulated Money Services Provider inside the UAE’s premier capital-market free zone.

In practice, this grants USDC the ability to move through a fully compliant institutional corridor in one of the world’s most important digital-asset jurisdictions.

🌐 Strengthening USDC’s Institutional Strategy Through Regional Leadership

Circle’s appointment of Dr. Saeeda Jaffar — a veteran Visa executive — underscores its ambition to scale USDC across enterprise financial infrastructure in the Middle East.

Her priorities include:

• accelerating USDC adoption in business payments,
• building regional partnerships,
• integrating USDC into cross-border settlement systems.

Jeremy Allaire described the approval as “a foundation for a more open and efficient internet financial system.”

🇦🇪 Dual Recognition: UAE Becomes the First Region With Harmonized USDC Regulation

ADGM’s approval follows Dubai’s DFSA recognition of USDC and EURC.

This dual-framework alignment gives institutions:

• clear licensing paths across UAE’s two major regulatory zones,
• predictable compliance rules,
• legal certainty for integrating USDC into payments, treasury, and tokenized products.

🏦 GENIUS Act Tailwinds: U.S. Banks Join the Stablecoin Race

Circle’s UAE milestone arrives just as the U.S. stablecoin landscape accelerates under the GENIUS Act.

Since its signing, major financial institutions — including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Robinhood — have launched stablecoin programs.

Regulatory clarity in the U.S. and UAE is reshaping competitive dynamics between USDC, USDT, and bank-issued tokens.

⚖️ UAE Becomes Ground Zero in the Stablecoin Power Struggle

1. USDT Gains Wide Multi-Chain Approval

ADGM now recognizes USDT across major blockchains — from Ethereum and Solana to Aptos, Cosmos, Tezos, TON, and more.

2. Binance Receives Full Regulatory Authorization

Binance is now authorized in ADGM as:

• a regulated exchange,
• a clearing house,
• a broker-dealer.

The UAE is becoming a structured competitive arena for global digital-asset companies.

📊 ATH.LIVE Analysis: Why Circle’s Approval Matters

1. The UAE Becomes the Global Epicenter of Stablecoin Regulation

With both USDC and USDT fully recognized, the UAE emerges as the world’s neutral regulated zone for institutional stablecoin adoption.

2. Circle Gains a Strategic Payments Advantage

USDC can now integrate directly into:

• corporate payment networks,
• cross-border settlement systems,
• tokenized asset platforms across the Gulf,
• developer and fintech infrastructure.

3. Tether Feels Heat in High-Compliance Markets

USDT dominates volume, but USDC’s regulated model gives it an edge with banks and sovereign-linked institutions requiring strict oversight.

“This is one of Circle’s most strategically important wins — and a defining moment in the global stablecoin landscape.”