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3 clusters · 8 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Dubai VARA digital asset licensing

Overview

The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has issued several broker-dealer licenses to digital asset firms to expand regulated services in the UAE.

On August 10, Flowdesk Omega FZE, a Dubai-based subsidiary of the French firm Flowdesk, received a full broker-dealer license. This authorization enables the firm to provide regulated services to institutional and qualified investors in Dubai, following its previous compliance with the European Union’s MiCA framework.

By August 12, VARA granted additional licenses to ARP Digital and Deribit. ARP Digital’s license allows for regulated digital asset and stablecoin conversion into local fiat currency, facilitating the movement of digital wealth into local assets. Deribit’s license permits the platform to route most spot orders to Coinbase Exchange for execution, providing clients with access to broader liquidity while maintaining its existing derivatives ecosystem.

On August 17, further details emerged regarding Deribit’s regulatory status, noting that this marks its second approval from VARA in less than two years. The integration with Coinbase’s centralized order book is expected to allow Deribit to expand its offerings beyond Bitcoin and Ether derivatives, potentially introducing hundreds of additional assets. This move follows Coinbase’s August 2025 acquisition of Deribit for approximately $2.9 billion. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated that the approval demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to “embracing digital assets and modern finance.”

Entities

Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority · Dubai · Coinbase · Deribit · Flowdesk

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Deribit secures Dubai broker-dealer license via Coinbase

    Deribit has obtained a Broker-Dealer License from Dubai’s VARA, allowing its spot orders to route directly to Coinbase for enhanced liquidity and asset expansion.

  2. 10 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    Dubai's VARA issues Broker-Dealer licences to ARP Digital and Deribit

    Firms ARP Digital and Deribit have secured Broker-Dealer licences from Dubai’s VARA, enabling regulated digital asset conversion and enhanced spot order routing via Coinbase.

  3. 12 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Flowdesk secures VARA broker-dealer license in Dubai

    Flowdesk has secured a full broker-dealer license from Dubai’s VARA, enabling regulated digital asset services for institutional investors in the region.

Sources

bitcoinethereumnews.com · coinedition.com · crypto.news · cryptobriefing.com · financemagnates.com · intlbm.com · news.bitcoin.com · remote3.co

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history