- ADGM’s FSRA grants first-ever approval for tokenized stocks under its securities regulatory framework.
- Binance secures regulated venue in Abu Dhabi after prior tokenized equity setbacks in Europe.
- Approved tokens track Amazon, Apple, Tesla and QQQ, expanding UAE institutional access.
Abu Dhabi regulators approved trading of tokenized equities tied to major U.S. stocks on Tuesday, marking a first for the emirate. The approval allows Ondo Finance tokenized stocks to trade on Binance within the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The decision gives UAE institutions regulated access to blockchain-based equity products.
Regulatory Clearance Marks ADGM First
The approval came from the Abu Dhabi Global Market through its Financial Services Regulatory Authority. According to a press release shared with CoinDesk, the FSRA authorized Ondo Global Markets’ tokenized stocks and ETFs for trading on Binance’s regulated Multilateral Trading Facility.
Notably, this marks the first time ADGM has approved tokenized securities under its regulatory framework. The clearance allows UAE-based financial institutions, intermediaries, and counterparties to trade token versions of publicly listed equities. Trading access is limited to non-U.S. users under existing platform rules.
The approved listings include tokenized versions of Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Circle, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and the Invesco QQQ ETF. Each product represents an equity-linked note tied to the underlying share.
Binance Gains Regulated Venue for Tokenized Equities
For Binance, the decision provides a regulated channel for tokenized stock trading after earlier setbacks in Europe. Nearly five years ago, the exchange shut down a similar service following scrutiny from U.K. and German regulators. However, Binance recently listed Ondo’s products on its Alpha platform, which focuses on early-stage offerings.
With ADGM approval, those products now trade on a regulated venue in Abu Dhabi. According to Ian de Bode, the listing expands access to digital equity products for a wider investor base. He said the move places tokenized stocks within an established regulatory environment.
Growing Market for Tokenized Securities
The broader tokenized securities market continues to expand. Data from RWA.xyz shows the total market value has surpassed $1 billion. Other platforms, including Kraken, Robinhood, Nasdaq, and the New York Stock Exchange, have explored similar products.
Ondo reported more than $11 billion in cumulative trading volume and over $600 million in total value locked since launching its offerings less than six months ago. Last year, the firm also secured approval for its base securities prospectus across the European Union.
