Coinbase Selects Abu Dhabi as Global Hub for Tokenized Securities

Key Facts

In a move reflecting the accelerating adoption of blockchain technology within traditional finance, Coinbase has secured regulatory approval in Abu Dhabi to offer tokenized securities. The Financial Services Permission from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) allows the platform to arrange investment deals and provide custody for digital assets. According to reports, this expansion aims to grow on-chain finance and provide a regulated environment for institutions to issue and trade tokenized financial instruments.

This expansion aligns with Abu Dhabi's strategy to become a global hub for digital assets, as ADGM provides a sophisticated regulatory framework that treats tokenized equities as both securities and DeFi-composable assets. Coinbase plans to utilize this license to offer digital securities backed by underlying shares, strengthening its regional presence alongside its existing derivatives business in Dubai. This move is part of a broader trend among global asset managers to place bonds, private credit, and stocks on blockchain rails to achieve near-instant settlement.

Regarding market performance, COIN shares stood at $148.68 (at close August 10, 2026), with a daily trading range between $147.9 and $153.61 per market data. Looking ahead at the economic calendar, investors are monitoring the speech by Fed's Musalem on August 6, 2026, which may influence sentiment across high-risk asset classes and the crypto-linked technology sector.