UAE's central bank has approved a USD-backed stablecoin

3 weeks ago

The USDU stablecoin is issued by Universal Digital, a crypto steadfast regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

Jan 29, 2026, 6:00 a.m.

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 29TH JANUARY, 10 AM GST

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has approved the country’s archetypal USD-backed stablecoin nether the bank’s Payment Token Services Regulation (PTSR), according to a property merchandise connected Thursday.

The issuance and absorption of the USDU token are handled by Universal Digital, which is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

Reserves backing USDU are held 1:1 successful safeguarded onshore accounts astatine Universal’s banking partners: Emirates NBD and Mashreq, with Mbank.

The regulatory determination means a USD stablecoin is present unrecorded and operational nether a cardinal slope payments regime, putting the UAE up of the U.S., EU, and overmuch of Asia, the merchandise stated.

“USDU sets a caller benchmark for regulated integer value,” said Juha Viitala, elder enforcement serviceman of Universal. “Being the archetypal Foreign Payment Token registered by the UAE Central Bank - and supported by starring UAE banks - gives institutions the clarity and assurance they person been waiting for. It lays the groundwork for a much transparent and businesslike digital-asset marketplace successful the UAE and beyond.”

Digital plus infrastructure steadfast Aquanow has been appointed arsenic a planetary organisation partner, supporting organization entree to USDU extracurricular the UAE wherever permitted, Universal said.

“We spot increasing organization involvement successful regulated digital-value instruments, and Universal’s instauration of USDU is simply a timely measurement that supports this market’s maturation,” said Joel Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate and Investment Banking, Mashreq.

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