Overview
- Coinbase obtained a Financial Services Permission from the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority to build an international tokenization hub in Abu Dhabi, a move confirmed across multiple outlets on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
- The permission specifically allows Coinbase to arrange investment deals and to hold custody of tokenized securities, meaning it can manage on‑chain records that represent real shares.
- Tokenized securities issued from the hub will be backed by underlying equities and carry verified shareholder economic rights such as dividends and, in some cases, voting rights.
- Investors will be able to hold these on‑chain assets directly in digital wallets, reducing the need for separate brokerage accounts or correspondent banking relationships.
- The hub builds on ADGM's 2018 regulatory framework and Abu Dhabi's wider push, including sovereign and institutional projects, to create institutional‑grade tokenization infrastructure across the Gulf.