- Dubai’s VARA fines 19 crypto firms for operating without proper licenses.
- Penalties range from AED 100,000 to AED 600,000 with immediate cease orders.
- VARA and SCA’s partnership ensures unified rules across the country’s digital asset market.
The United Arab Emirates is reinforcing its position as a global crypto hub—but not without rules.
As the country’s virtual asset market expands, regulators are stepping up enforcement to protect investors and ensure transparency.
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has taken decisive action against unlicensed operators, signalling that the city’s crypto ambitions are rooted in compliance, not chaos.
VARA fines 19 crypto firms for unlicensed activity
VARA recently fined 19 companies for conducting virtual asset activities without proper authorisation or in violation of its marketing regulations.
The penalties, which ranged from AED 100,000 to AED 600,000, were accompanied by cease-and-desist orders, requiring the firms to immediately halt all operations and promotional activities in Dubai.
The list of penalised companies included UAEC Digital Fintech FZCO, Morpheus Software Technology FZE (operating as FUZE), TON DLT Foundation, GLEEC DMCC, UEEX Technology, LBK Blockchain FZCO, Triple A Technologies, Hatom Labs, Hokk Finance, Mastercoin DMC, and A to Z Globe DMCC, among others.
VARA said these firms had breached regulatory obligations and failed to obtain the required licences for offering crypto-related services.
Each company was ordered to stop marketing unapproved crypto products and services to residents or entities within Dubai.
Dubai steps up enforcement to maintain market integrity
The crackdown marks one of VARA’s strongest enforcement actions since its inception, reinforcing Dubai’s message that virtual asset activities must align with its regulatory framework.
According to VARA, unlicensed operations pose serious financial, legal, and reputational risks—not only to investors but also to the stability of the wider digital asset ecosystem.
In previous cases, VARA had imposed similar penalties on entities found in breach of its licensing rules.
Morpheus Software Technology FZE (FUZE), for instance, was previously fined for anti-money laundering violations and governance failures.
The firm has since accepted the findings, submitted a remediation plan, and allowed VARA to appoint an independent compliance monitor to oversee corrective measures.
These actions demonstrate Dubai’s intention to foster a secure market that supports innovation without compromising investor protection.
UAE aims for unified crypto regulation
Earlier this year, the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and VARA signed a strategic partnership to harmonise regulatory frameworks across the country.
The collaboration seeks to eliminate gaps between federal and emirate-level rules, ensuring that all virtual asset service providers operate under consistent oversight.
This unified approach is part of the UAE’s broader effort to attract global crypto firms while maintaining strict standards for transparency and risk management.
The partnership between SCA and VARA also allows both regulators to share data, streamline licensing, and strengthen supervision of the fast-growing digital asset market.
Strong adoption drives regulatory evolution
While the UAE enforces tighter rules, it continues to see one of the highest rates of crypto adoption globally.
Experts recently ranked the UAE among the top countries for digital asset ownership, with 25.3 percent of its population holding cryptocurrencies.
That growth—fuelled by strong investor interest and government support—has turned the UAE into one of the most active markets in the world for blockchain and decentralised finance initiatives.
Between 2019 and 2025, crypto adoption in the UAE reportedly increased by more than 200 percent.
In global rankings, the country scored 99.7 on a composite crypto adoption index, just behind Singapore, which scored 100.
Such widespread adoption has made regulation more urgent.
Authorities are aware that unlicensed operations could undermine investor confidence, and VARA’s latest enforcement drive aims to set clear boundaries for firms entering the market.
