Virtual Assets
FATF Virtual Asset Guidance: The Anti-Money Laundering Rules That Every Jurisdiction Must Follow
FATF's Recommendation 15 and the Updated Guidance on Virtual Assets define the global AML/CFT framework for crypto — and FATF membership pressure is the single most powerful driver of national crypto AML legislation.
Hong Kong's VATP Licensing: Asia's Most Ambitious Crypto Hub Strategy
Hong Kong's mandatory licensing regime for Virtual Asset Trading Platforms — introduced in June 2023 — is the centrepiece of its strategy to become Asia's premier institutional digital asset hub, competing directly with Singapore and Dubai.
UAE Federal Crypto Law: Harmonising VARA, DFSA, and ADGM Into One Framework
The UAE federal virtual asset law aims to create a consistent national framework across the emirate-level (VARA), DIFC (DFSA), and Abu Dhabi (ADGM/FSRA) regulatory regimes — the most complex regulatory harmonisation challenge in Gulf finance.
VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority — Dubai)
VARA's establishment under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022, its seven licence categories, the world-first DeFi regulatory track, and major licensees including Bybit and Binance.
VARA: Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority and Its Global Significance
Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, established 2022, created the world's first dedicated virtual asset regulator. Its licensing framework attracted dozens of global crypto firms — and set a template for emerging market regulatory design.