Singapore-based digital asset trading firm QCP Group has obtained a full licence from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), marking a step that strengthens its presence in one of the world’s most ambitious cryptocurrency hubs.
The licence, issued under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), allows QCP to provide spot and derivatives trading, market making, and structured solutions for institutional and professional clients.
With the firm already holding a Major Payment Institution licence from Singapore’s Monetary Authority, this dual approval places it across two key financial hubs and signals a strategy aimed at connecting liquidity between Asia and the Middle East.
The FSP from ADGM empowers QCP to offer a comprehensive suite of regulated digital asset services from its strategic base in Abu Dhabi, including spot and derivatives trading, market making, and bespoke structured solutions for institutional and professional clients. “We are
Abu Dhabi has emerged as a serious contender among global crypto hubs, introducing a comprehensive framework for virtual assets as early as 2018.
The FSRA built its regime on stringent compliance rules combined with favourable tax incentives, designed to attract exchanges, custodians, and token issuers to its ecosystem.
The emirate has also been proactive in reinforcing this strategy with high-profile investments. In March, its MGX fund committed $2.00 billion to Binance, demonstrating intent to compete directly with other financial centres in Asia, Europe, and beyond.
For QCP, the timing of its approval aligns with the city’s wider ambition to act as a bridge for capital flows and technological innovation across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
While Abu Dhabi promotes itself as crypto-friendly, the approval process is among the most demanding globally. Firms applying for licences must provide detailed business plans, governance structures, and evidence of experienced leadership.
Cybersecurity readiness and robust anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) frameworks are non-negotiable.
Applicants face significant costs and heavy compliance checks before final approval. These conditions, however, are part of the emirate’s strategy to ensure only qualified institutions operate within ADGM.
For QCP, meeting such requirements builds additional credibility in a sector where regulators worldwide are pressing for higher standards and institutional-grade safeguards.
By holding licences in both Singapore and Abu Dhabi, QCP is now positioned in two globally recognised financial centres. This dual-regulatory status allows the company to offer 24-hour regulated trading across time zones, bridging liquidity between Asia and the Middle East.
The FSRA highlighted that QCP’s approval fits with ADGM’s aim of attracting institutions committed to compliance and innovation.
QCP now joins a growing list of international digital asset firms that view Abu Dhabi as a stable and strategically located base.
As global scrutiny on digital assets intensifies, Abu Dhabi is banking on its mix of progressive regulation, strict oversight, and geographical reach to attract more companies seeking operational resilience in a regulated environment.
The post Singapore’s QCP gains full Abu Dhabi licence as ADGM strengthens crypto oversight appeared first on Invezz
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Singapore-based digital asset trading firm QCP Group has obtained a full licence from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), marking a step that strengthens its presence in one of the world’s most ambitious cryptocurrency hubs.
The licence, issued under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), allows QCP to provide spot and derivatives trading, market making, and structured solutions for institutional and professional clients.
With the firm already holding a Major Payment Institution licence from Singapore’s Monetary Authority, this dual approval places it across two key financial hubs and signals a strategy aimed at connecting liquidity between Asia and the Middle East.
The FSP from ADGM empowers QCP to offer a comprehensive suite of regulated digital asset services from its strategic base in Abu Dhabi, including spot and derivatives trading, market making, and bespoke structured solutions for institutional and professional clients. “We are
Abu Dhabi has emerged as a serious contender among global crypto hubs, introducing a comprehensive framework for virtual assets as early as 2018.
The FSRA built its regime on stringent compliance rules combined with favourable tax incentives, designed to attract exchanges, custodians, and token issuers to its ecosystem.
The emirate has also been proactive in reinforcing this strategy with high-profile investments. In March, its MGX fund committed $2.00 billion to Binance, demonstrating intent to compete directly with other financial centres in Asia, Europe, and beyond.
For QCP, the timing of its approval aligns with the city’s wider ambition to act as a bridge for capital flows and technological innovation across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
While Abu Dhabi promotes itself as crypto-friendly, the approval process is among the most demanding globally. Firms applying for licences must provide detailed business plans, governance structures, and evidence of experienced leadership.
Cybersecurity readiness and robust anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) frameworks are non-negotiable.
Applicants face significant costs and heavy compliance checks before final approval. These conditions, however, are part of the emirate’s strategy to ensure only qualified institutions operate within ADGM.
For QCP, meeting such requirements builds additional credibility in a sector where regulators worldwide are pressing for higher standards and institutional-grade safeguards.
By holding licences in both Singapore and Abu Dhabi, QCP is now positioned in two globally recognised financial centres. This dual-regulatory status allows the company to offer 24-hour regulated trading across time zones, bridging liquidity between Asia and the Middle East.
The FSRA highlighted that QCP’s approval fits with ADGM’s aim of attracting institutions committed to compliance and innovation.
QCP now joins a growing list of international digital asset firms that view Abu Dhabi as a stable and strategically located base.
As global scrutiny on digital assets intensifies, Abu Dhabi is banking on its mix of progressive regulation, strict oversight, and geographical reach to attract more companies seeking operational resilience in a regulated environment.
The post Singapore’s QCP gains full Abu Dhabi licence as ADGM strengthens crypto oversight appeared first on Invezz
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