Please note that the below is intended to be an illustrative commentary and not to constitute legal advice. The amendments to the VARA Rulebooks...

In a significant development, AE Coin has received a full regulatory licence from the Central Bank of the UAE ("CBUAE"), marking a major milestone in the country's digital finance ecosystem.

In a recent opinion published on the Shanghai High Court's official WeChat account, Judge Sun Jie, a judge at the Shanghai Songjiang District People's Court, confirmed that it is not illegal for individuals in China to hold, buy, or sell cryptocurrencies, recognising them as legal property.

In a significant development for the UAE's financial landscape, the country has introduced its first-ever dirham-backed stablecoin – AE Coin, launched by AED Stablecoin LLC

The SEC's April 2025 Guidance signals a shift from ambiguity to structure, requiring digital asset issuers to treat token-related disclosures with the same rigour as traditional securities offerings.

The European Union ("EU") is stepping up its fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. In 2024, it introduced a major set of new rules for financial institutions...

Wallet tracking solutions monitor wallet activity across multiple blockchains, linking addresses to real-world entities and identifying suspicious patterns.

South Korea is rapidly advancing virtual asset regulation, specifically to monitor cross-border transactions and address a "blind spot" in oversight that has facilitated financial crimes.

Canadians are taxed on their global income as long as they are considered tax residents of Canada. For Canadians relocating to the United Arab Emirates ("UAE"), understanding the nuances of residency rules...

The rapid evolution of the virtual asset industry has introduced both unprecedented opportunities and significant regulatory challenges.

Migrating businesses must assess the need for a mainland presence, particularly in sectors that require local partnerships or direct market access.

In a recent ruling of Andrew Samuels v. Lido DAO,[i] the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ("Court") addressed the legal complexities surrounding decentralised autonomous organisations ("DAO").

The 2024 ruling by the Dubai Court of First Instance affirms the legality of paying salaries in cryptocurrency under employment contracts, reflecting a shift in the UAE judiciary's approach to

The Abu Dhabi Global Market ("ADGM") has taken a significant leap towards regulating the virtual assets ecosystem by amending the Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015 ("FSMR") through the Financial Services and Markets (Amendment No. 1) Regulations 2024 ("Amendment").

In May 2025, VARA mandated all VASPs to be fully registered and responsive on the FIU's Integrated Enquiry Management System portal.

The Capital Market Authority of the United Arab Emirates has introduced a comprehensive new licensing regime for Virtual Asset Service Providers, establishing eight distinct regulated activities with risk-based capital requirements and enhanced governance standards. The framework consolidates previous regulations while introducing stricter controls on privacy tokens, algorithmic tokens, and client asset holdings, positioning the UAE as a leading hub for regulated digital asset innovation.

The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance issued a Statement on Proof-of-Work (PoW) Mining, opining that certain mining activities do not constitute securities transactions.

South Korea's Virtual Asset User Protection Act 2024 introduces stringent regulations to enhance consumer protection in the crypto space.

Anyone offering financial advice or investment recommendations in the UAE on any platform must be licensed by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and registered as a finfluencer.

Virtual asset proprietary trading ("Prop Trading"), where firms trade digital assets using their own capital has gained significant traction amid the global rise of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based financial systems.