GFO-X Group has received In-Principle Approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to establish a regulated digital asset exchange and clearing house in the UAE.
The approval covers two entities — GFO-X Abu Dhabi Exchange Limited and GFO-X Abu Dhabi CCP Limited — which will operate as a Recognised Investment Exchange and Recognised Clearing House for digital asset derivatives and related products.
“This approval is a pivotal step in our journey to build a globally interconnected, regulated marketplace for digital asset derivatives,” said Arnab Sen, CEO of GFO-X. “ADGM’s regulatory sophistication and institutional-grade infrastructure make it an ideal jurisdiction for our next phase of growth.”
The move marks a strategic expansion for the group, which already runs the UK’s first FCA-authorised, centrally cleared digital asset derivatives Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF), with additional infrastructure in Hong Kong.
In this latest move, GFO-X AD is targeting launch in 2026 and will offer 24/7 trading and clearing, including weekends and after-hours access. The venue will support both cash-settled and physically delivered derivatives, allowing digital assets to be used as margin in a centrally cleared format — a key innovation it said is aimed at unlocking institutional participation and resolving long-standing collateral inefficiencies.
GFO-X AD will integrate tokenised real-world assets into mainstream market workflows and offer a full suite of listed products for both institutional and crypto-native investors. The group is currently in advanced discussions with institutional partners as it builds out the next generation of digital asset infrastructure.
Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM, said: “ADGM has consistently set the benchmark for progressive and robust financial regulation in this space. Its comprehensive ecosystem and forward-looking vision make it the ideal home for building a platform of global scale and integrity.”
