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Animoca Brands obtains a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from VARA to offer regulated crypto services from Dubai.
Animoca Brands announced on February 16, 2026 that it has received a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) License from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), authorizing the company to provide virtual asset Broker‑Dealer Services and virtual asset Management and Investment Services in and from the Emirate of Dubai (excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre). The license enables Animoca Brands to commence operations for global institutional and qualified investors from its Dubai base under VARA’s regulatory framework.
The VASP License is intended to support Animoca Brands’ expansion in the Middle East and to deliver regulated digital asset services and investment activities from Dubai, complementing its platforms such as Moca Network, Open Campus, Anichess, and The Sandbox; the company manages a portfolio of over 600 companies and digital assets. “Receiving the VASP license from VARA is an important milestone,” says Omar Elassar, managing director for Middle East and head of Global Strategic Partnerships at Animoca Brands.
🧭 FAQs
• What activities does the VARA VASP License permit Animoca Brands to perform? It permits VA Broker‑Dealer Services and VA Management and Investment Services from Dubai (excluding DIFC).
• When was the license announced and where is Animoca operating from? The license was announced on February 16, 2026 and covers operations in and from the Emirate of Dubai.
• Who can Animoca Brands serve under the VARA license? Animoca can serve global institutional and qualified investors from its Dubai operations.
• What regulator granted the VASP License and when was it established? The license was granted by VARA, established in 2022 under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022.