Binance becomes first crypto exchange to receive global authorisation under Abu Dhabi’s ADGM regime

Binance said this week it has secured formal authorisation from Abu Dhabi Global Market’s (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority to operate its international platform, the first time a cryptocurrency exchange has been licensed under ADGM’s full digital-asset regulatory framework.
The approval covers Binance.com through three separately regulated entities in ADGM, an exchange, a clearing house and a broker-dealer, each granted distinct permissions to conduct trading, clearing, settlement, custody and over-the-counter activities. The companies, currently named Nest Services Limited, Nest Clearing and Custody Limited and BCI Limited, would be rebranded to reflect their new roles, Binance said.
Nest Services has been authorised as a Recognised Investment Exchange to run a multilateral trading facility for spot and derivatives products, while Nest Clearing has been approved as a Recognised Clearing House with additional powers to provide custody and central securities depository services. BCI has been licensed as a broker-dealer with permissions spanning investment dealing, asset management, custody arrangements and money services.
Binance said the “global first” provides regulatory clarity across multiple markets and strengthens the exchange’s efforts to build a more compliant operating model. The company added that ADGM’s regime, regarded by industry participants as a “gold-standard” framework, brings higher levels of oversight, operational resilience and consumer protection.
“This reflects our commitment to compliance, transparency and user protection,” Co-Chief Executive Richard Teng said, adding that the licence enhances the platform’s legitimacy as it scales its institutional and retail offering.
ADGM Chairman Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi said that Binance’s authorisation reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to be “a leading hub for innovation and the future of finance”.
Binance, which reports over 300 million registered users and more than US $ 125 trillion in cumulative trading volume, has been tightening its regulatory posture following the enforcement actions in several jurisdictions.
The exchange expects to begin operating ADGM-regulated services from January 5, 2026, subject to final operational readiness.