Coinbase Wins License to Launch Tokenized Securities Hub in Abu Dhabi

US exchange Coinbase said on Thursday, August 20, 2026 (29 Mordad 1405) that it had received the regulatory license it needed from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to launch an international hub for tokenizing assets. The license allows Coinbase to offer custody and brokerage services for blockchain issued securities backed by real company shares.

The move builds on Coinbase's Project Diamond in Abu Dhabi, which previously used the Base blockchain and the USDC stablecoin and focused on debt instruments, and is now expanding into tokenizing large company equities. Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM's director of market development, described the license in a statement as part of an effort to improve capital market access. Rival firm Ondo Finance had earlier obtained a similar Abu Dhabi license for tokenizing shares of Apple and Tesla. Coinbase plans to centralize its on chain capital markets operations in Abu Dhabi and its global derivatives trading in Dubai.