Animoca Brands obtained a crypto license in Dubai to expand into the Middle East 🌍

Animoca Brands obtained a crypto license in Dubai to expand into the Middle East 🌍

Market Analysis

February 16, 2026

Animoca Brands obtained a crypto license in Dubai to scale into the Middle East. The regulator approved the permit on February 5, and the company can now work with institutional and qualified investors under the supervision of VARA, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. This is a step toward a stronger presence in a regulated jurisdiction, where the rules are clearer and predictability matters for large capital.

Essentially, the license gives Animoca Brands official access to operate in Dubai. In many regions, institutional players do not enter the crypto segment without clear frameworks, compliance, and oversight. That is why the permit from VARA is not just a formality, but an opportunity to negotiate and offer products to those who typically work only with companies that have a transparent legal status.

For Animoca Brands itself, this means expanding activity in the Middle East through Dubai as one of the key hubs for Web3 companies. In recent years, Dubai has been actively building regulatory infrastructure for virtual assets, and that is why many international players choose this jurisdiction as an entry point into the region. The license strengthens the company’s position in the eyes of partners and clients, showing readiness to operate within the rules and scale without chaos.

For investors in the region and beyond, this step also carries weight. When a company operates under VARA supervision, regulatory uncertainty decreases. It becomes clear who controls the processes, what the operating requirements are, and what accountability mechanisms exist. This does not remove all market risks, but it makes interaction more structured and predictable.

Now the key question is how quickly Animoca Brands will turn this permit into concrete results. This includes new partnerships, product launches in the region, and deals with professional investors. But the very fact of obtaining the license on February 5 is a clear signal of the company’s strategic focus on regulated development in the Middle East through Dubai.