Virtual asset service provider (non-MiCA) · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)

Financial Services Permission with Virtual Asset Activities Endorsement (Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM))

The Financial Services Permission with Virtual Asset Activities Endorsement is issued by Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) under the Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015. The official register lists 18 current holders. The legal decision period is Within a reasonable time from submission of a complete application. The application fee is USD 20,000. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

Last verified 2026-09-24Regulator FSRAMarkdown · Data (CC BY 4.0)
Financial Services Permission with Virtual Asset Activities Endorsement: licenceVASP

At a glance

Official nameFinancial Services Permission with Virtual Asset Activities Endorsement1
Issued byFinancial Services Regulatory Authority
JurisdictionAbu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Licence familyVirtual asset service provider (non-MiCA)
Legal basisFinancial Services and Markets Regulations 20152
FSRA Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Rulebook (AML)3
PassportingDomestic only
Application feeUSD 20,0001
Annual feeUSD 15,0001
Statutory decision timeWithin a reasonable time from submission of a complete application4
Public registerofficial register5
Current holders185

What it lets you do

  • Virtual asset exchange (FATF). Exchanging virtual assets for fiat currency or for other virtual assets as a business, as defined in the FATF glossary.
  • Virtual asset transfer (FATF). Conducting transactions that move virtual assets between addresses or accounts on behalf of another person.
  • Virtual asset safekeeping (FATF). Safekeeping or administering virtual assets, or instruments enabling control over them, for another person.

Where it is valid

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) licence, domesticAbu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Valid in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

Cost

Cost components, upper bound total USD 35,000Application fee: USD 20,000Annual supervisory fee: USD 15,000
Regulatory costs from the official sources above. Professional fees, staff, office and audit come on top and depend on the business model.

Buying a company that already holds it

Prior approval required. Under FSMR section 105 and GEN 8.8, prior written approval from the FSRA is required before a person becomes a controller or increases control across 20%, 30%, or 50% thresholds. A controller is defined as holding 10% or more of voting rights or capital, or exercising significant influence. The statutory determination period is 90 days from receipt of a complete notice, accompanied by a USD 1,000 application fee.6

Ready-made companies holding this licence: see verified positions.

Laws behind it

Getting this licence

Protegra handles this licence end to end: crypto licensing in ADGM: process, timeline and our fee.

Last verified 2026-09-24Author Danil Marmysh, Founder & CEO, ProtegraReviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova, Head of Licensing, ProtegraReport an errorReference information, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: 24820 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  2. en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: financial services and markets regulations 2015 0 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  3. en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: anti money laundering and sanctions rulebook aml ver11210526 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  4. en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: 12521 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  5. adgm.com: firms · retrieved 2026-09-24
  6. en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: 7993 · retrieved 2026-09-24

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