Animoca Brands has secured a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, adding a regulated channel for its expansion in the Middle East. The approval, disclosed on Monday, gives the Hong Kong-founded Web3 investor a formal basis to grow digital asset services in the region.
VARA’s public register shows the license was issued on Feb. 5. It allows Animoca Brands to provide broker-dealer services and investment management linked to virtual assets. The authorization does not cover operations inside the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the company’s initial focus is on institutional and qualified investors under VARA oversight.
License scope centers on institutional business
Omar Elassar, managing director for the Middle East and head of global strategic partnerships, said the approval strengthens the company’s engagement with Web3 foundations and global institutional investors. He also said Dubai offers a regulated setting that supports structured digital asset activity.
The license does more than open a new market entry point. It places Animoca Brands inside Dubai’s tightening compliance regime and gives the company a clearer route to operate in a supervised virtual asset market.
Broader Web3 portfolio supports regional push
Animoca Brands develops blockchain platforms and backs several Web3 ecosystems. Its portfolio includes The Sandbox, Open Campus, and Moca Network. The company says it has invested in more than 600 companies and digital asset initiatives. In January, it also acquired gaming and digital collectibles company Somo, adding playable and tradable collectibles to its blockchain portfolio.
That acquisition fits its existing push into tokenized entertainment and digital ownership models. With the VARA approval now in place, the company’s regional strategy is easier to read: secure regulatory access first, then scale services aimed at larger investors.
Dubai keeps tightening virtual asset oversight
Dubai continues to draw crypto firms looking for structured regulation. The report notes that digital asset infrastructure provider BitGo received a VARA broker-dealer license in October 2025, allowing its regional arm to offer trading and intermediation services to institutional clients.
Enforcement has also picked up. VARA recently imposed financial penalties on 19 firms for unlicensed virtual asset activity, with some actions also tied to violations of marketing rules. In that setting, Animoca Brands’ approval adds to its Middle East growth plan while also reflecting how Dubai’s crypto market is moving toward stricter licensed operations.