Hashed’s ADGM License: Crypto’s Desert Takeover!

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South Korea’s crypto kingpins, Hashed, have just snatched a regulatory gold ticket to Abu Dhabi, where the only thing more regulated than the financials is the sand under your feet.

Summary

  • Hashed’s ADGM approval lets it advise on investments, manage assets, and operate funds-because nothing says “trust us” like a license written in cuneiform.
  • The firm claims the license will “connect Middle Eastern institutional capital with global founders and markets”-a fancy way of saying, “We’re finally allowed to play by the rules, and the rules are written in cuneiform.”

According to a company announcement, Hashed’s group entity, Hashed Global Management Limited, has received a Financial Services Permission from ADGM, allowing it to carry out regulated activities such as advising on investments or credit, arranging deals, managing assets, and operating collective investment funds. Because nothing says “financial stability” like a license issued by a place where the main export is camel hair and crypto.

Operating under this license, Hashed Global Management Limited can engage institutional investors within ADGM’s regulatory framework, where the Financial Services Regulatory Authority oversees licensing and compliance for financial firms. Because nothing says “compliance” like a bureaucracy so thick you could slice it with a dagger.

“This permission lays the groundwork for HGML to collaborate with Middle Eastern institutional investors within a regulated environment,” said Seokwon Hong, licensed director and senior executive officer of the entity. “Which, in other words, means we’re finally allowed to play by the rules, and the rules are written in cuneiform.”

Positioning itself between regional capital and global founders, Hashed plans to use the approval to connect investment flows between the UAE and South Korea while expanding partnerships across markets and ecosystems. Because nothing says “global connectivity” like a blockchain and a camel caravan.

Interest in Abu Dhabi’s financial hub has increased as global crypto firms pursue regulatory clarity in the region. ADGM, which operates as a special economic zone with its own legal and financial system, has attracted firms looking to scale within a structured environment. Because nothing says “structured” like a place where the only thing more regulated than your crypto is the tea served at the meetings.

“This milestone underscores the growing momentum we are seeing as leading firms choose ADGM and Abu Dhabi to establish and scale their regional operations,” said Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM. “Which, in other words, means we’re the new Wall Street, but with more dunes and fewer skyscrapers.”

Recent approvals granted to firms such as Binance, Circle, and Tether point to rising participation from major players entering the jurisdiction under regulated frameworks. Because nothing says “major players” like a company that’s still figuring out how to spell “regulation.”

Earlier in March, Ondo Finance secured approval within ADGM to offer tokenized U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds through a regulated trading venue operated by Binance, with oversight from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Because nothing says “tokenized” like a digital version of a stock that’s more volatile than a camel in a windstorm.

The company said its digital securities, structured as equity-linked notes, were admitted for trading on a Multilateral Trading Facility, allowing access to tokenized shares of firms including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla outside the United States. Because nothing says “global reach” like trading Apple shares in a desert where the only thing more valuable than your portfolio is your water supply.

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2026-04-30 11:00