The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), one of the main financial zones of the United Arab Emirates, has announced a strategic agreement with Chainlink to develop new tokenization models. The agreement, established by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marks a further step towards the integration between traditional finance and blockchain technology.
According to the official announcement on March 24, the agreement will allow ADGM to leverage Chainlink’s technologies, including data feeds and interoperability tools. The initiative aims not only to support the tokenization of financial assets but also to stimulate the discussion on blockchain, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies in the region.
This collaboration is part of a broader process of digitalization of the financial sector in the United Arab Emirates, a country that has seen an increase of 41% in crypto application downloads in 2024 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the region ranks third in the Henley Crypto Adoption Index 2024, confirming the growing spread of cryptocurrencies and their institutional acceptance.
Abu Dhabi expands its financial hub with the agreement between ADGM and Chainlink
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is a financial free zone established in 2015 with an autonomous legal system based on English Common Law. Its goal is to consolidate the role of Abu Dhabi as a global financial center, attract international companies, and expand the city’s financial sector.
At the end of 2024, ADGM hosted 134 asset and fund managers, overseeing a total of 166 investment funds. Additionally, the total number of financial institutions present grew to 275, with 79 new entries into the market, including giants like BlackRock, PGIM, and Morgan Stanley.
With the introduction of Chainlink technology, ADGM aims to strengthen its position by offering new tools for asset tokenization. The ability to integrate reliable data feeds and interoperability solutions will help bridge the gap between the traditional financial system and the new opportunities offered by blockchain.
The adoption of cryptocurrencies in the United Arab Emirates
The spread of cryptocurrencies in the United Arab Emirates is experiencing strong growth, supported by favorable regulations and increasing institutional acceptance. Data indicates that crypto application downloads in 2024 have increased by 41% compared to the previous year, confirming the growing interest from investors and companies in the sector.
The United Arab Emirates stand out on the international scene thanks to their initiatives supporting crypto. Abu Dhabi, in particular, represents a point of reference. In December 2024, the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority officially recognized Tether (USDT) as an accepted digital asset, facilitating its integration into local financial services.
The investment sector is also showing a growing interest in cryptocurrencies. On March 12, Binance announced an investment by MGX, a company based in Abu Dhabi, amounting to 2 billion dollars, one of the largest financial operations in the history of the crypto sector.
Dubai accelerates on stablecoin
Not only Abu Dhabi, but also Dubai is strengthening its position in the cryptocurrency sector. In February 2024, the city approved the stablecoin USDC and EURC, which have become the first two regulated stable cryptocurrencies in the local market. This choice demonstrates the openness of the United Arab Emirates towards the blockchain sector and the willingness to provide a clear and favorable regulatory framework for investors.
Towards an increasingly digital finance
The agreement between ADGM and Chainlink represents a fundamental step towards the integration between traditional finance and blockchain. The tokenization of financial assets could revolutionize the sector, improving transparency, efficiency, and accessibility to global markets.
The emergence of cryptocurrencies in the United Arab Emirates confirms the central role of the region in financial innovation, pushing more and more companies and investors to consider Abu Dhabi and Dubai as strategic hubs for the digitalization of financial services.
Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2025/03/25/abu-dhabi-accelerates-in-the-adoption-of-blockchain-agreement-between-adgm-and-chainlink-for-tokenization/