Animoca Brands has secured a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), enabling the Hong Kong-based firm to operate regulated digital asset services in the Middle East. Issued on February 5, 2026, the license authorizes broker-dealer and virtual asset investment management services for institutional and qualified investors across Dubai's mainland and free zones, excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which operates under a separate regulatory framework.
Strategic Expansion with Institutional Focus
Dubai established VARA in 2022 to oversee digital asset activity across the emirate, positioning the city as a global hub for virtual assets. Omar Elassar, Managing Director for the Middle East and Head of Global Strategic Partnerships at Animoca Brands, commented: “Receiving the VASP licence from VARA is an important milestone for Animoca Brands' operations, particularly in Dubai and the Middle East. This licence enhances our ability to engage with Web3 foundations as well as global institutional and qualified investors within a well-regulated framework, and reflects our commitment to building and operating responsibly as digital asset markets continue to mature.”
Animoca Brands manages a broad Web3 investment portfolio including The Sandbox, Moca Network, and Open Campus, spanning hundreds of digital asset companies. The company is also pursuing a public listing via a reverse merger on the Nasdaq, expected to close in 2026. The Dubai license supports strategic priorities such as stablecoin offerings, real-world asset tokenization, and regulated crypto products.
NFT Recovery and Bitcoin Yield Strategy
Beyond regulatory expansion, Animoca Brands recently acquired Web3 social gaming platform Somo to strengthen its digital collectibles and NFT infrastructure, as parts of the NFT market show renewed activity. The acquisition aligns with Animoca's broader push to deepen user engagement across its blockchain gaming and digital asset portfolio.
In parallel, Animoca Brands partnered with decentralized finance protocol Solv Protocol to enhance Bitcoin yield opportunities for institutional participants. The collaboration targets corporate Bitcoin holders, helping them deploy treasury-held digital assets into structured yield strategies, reflecting rising institutional demand for capital efficiency in crypto holdings.
Having already secured a fund management license in Abu Dhabi, Animoca Brands now completes its regulated footprint in the Middle East with the Dubai VASP approval. As more crypto and blockchain firms set up regulated operations in the region, the license is expected to attract additional Asia-Pacific Web3 companies seeking compliant expansion into the Middle East.