Galaxy has officially announced the launch of its new Abu Dhabi division, marking a major step in the company’s strategic push into the Middle East. The new office will operate under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the emirate’s rapidly growing international financial hub and a preferred destination for fintech and digital asset firms.
Founder and CEO Mike Novogratz stated that the move aligns with Galaxy’s long-term vision to deepen institutional partnerships and expand its global footprint in regions demonstrating strong interest in digital assets.
Strong Q3 Results and Strategic Investments
The decision follows Galaxy’s solid financial performance this year. The company reported $505 million in net income for Q3 2025, with total equity reaching $3.2 billion.
Galaxy has also been active in major crypto initiatives, including participation in a planned $1.65 billion Solana treasury fund alongside prominent partners such as Cantor Fitzgerald, Multicoin Capital, and Jump Crypto.
Managing director Bouchra Darwazah emphasized the growing significance of the Middle East, describing it as a region rich in capital, innovation, and sophisticated investors. She noted that the Abu Dhabi office will play a key role in supporting Galaxy’s mission to become a leading global digital asset investment and infrastructure company.
UAE Emerging as a Digital Asset Hub
Galaxy joins a rising number of international digital asset firms selecting the UAE as their base for regional expansion. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have granted approvals to several major crypto exchanges, including Binance and Bybit.
Stablecoin issuers are also gaining regulatory traction. Recent ADGM decisions have allowed licensed companies to issue Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, while Tether’s USDt was formally recognized as an approved fiat-referenced token.
Circle has also received authorization to operate as a financial service provider, enabling broader adoption of USDC in the Middle East.
Tether and Binance Strengthen Presence in Abu Dhabi
Galaxy’s entry reflects the UAE’s broader ambition to position itself as a global leader in digital asset regulation and infrastructure.
Tether’s USDT stablecoin recently received full regulatory recognition within ADGM, enabling licensed institutions in the financial zone to conduct approved activities using USDT across multiple blockchains, including Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON, TRON, Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche.
Meanwhile, Binance has secured complete authorization to run its flagship platform under ADGM regulation. This milestone comes after extensive regulatory reviews. Binance will operate through three licensed entities within the zone — an exchange, a clearing house, and a broker-dealer — offering a traditional market structure that supports regulated trading, custody, settlement, and off-exchange services.
