Share this article

FTX Europe Becomes First Exchange to Receive Crypto License in Dubai

The exchange will also set up a regional headquarters in Dubai.

Updated May 11, 2023, 5:58 p.m. Published Mar 15, 2022, 9:56 a.m.
Dubai Skyline (Shutterstock)
Dubai Skyline (Shutterstock)

FTX Europe, the newly established European unit of crypto exchange FTX, became the first firm to receive a license to operate a crypto exchange and trading house in Dubai.

  • With the license the exchange will be able to trial crypto derivatives for institutional investors. The license comes a week after Dubai announced the creation of Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), which will be responsible for governing the crypto sector.
  • The independent authority will "oversee the development of the best business environment in the world for virtual assets in terms of regulation, licensing, governance, and in line with local and global financial systems," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted when the news came out.
  • “FTX receiving this approval is a continuation of our mission to be at the forefront of licensing and regulation around the world,” FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried said in a press release on Tuesday.
  • Earlier this week, FTX rival Binance received a license to operate in Bahrain effectively expanding its middle eastern presence. Binance is also reported to be in talks to obtain a Dubai license.

Read more:Binance in Talks to Obtain Dubai License Amid Middle East Push: Report

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

GP Basic Image

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.

More For You

Cascade Unveils 24/7 Neo-Brokerage Offering Perpetuals on Cryptos, U.S. Stocks

Computer monitors and a laptop screen show trading charts on a desk overlooking an expanse of water at sunset. (sergeitokmakov/Pixabay, modified by CoinDesk)

The platform will let retail traders use one margin account to trade round-the-clock perpetual markets.

What to know:

  • Cascade has introduced a 24/7 brokerage-style app for perpetual markets spanning crypto, U.S. equities and private-asset exposure.
  • The firm is pitching a single, unified margin account with direct-to-bank U.S. dollar capability for deposits and withdrawals.
  • The company has raised $15 million from investors including Polychain Capital, Variant and Coinbase Ventures.