UAE’s federal monetary regulator opens licensing functions for VASPs

The federal monetary regulatory company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced that it’s going to begin receiving licensing functions for corporations that need to present digital asset companies throughout the nation. 

The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) said in a press launch that each one digital asset service suppliers (VASPs) working within the nation should submit an software and acquire a license from the regulator, with the exemption of these licensed within the nation’s monetary free zones.

In the meantime, digital asset firms working throughout the emirate of Dubai will nonetheless must adjust to its own financial regulator, the digital asset companies authority (VARA). These firms should additionally apply for and acquire a license from VARA.

On Dec. 11, 2022, the UAE’s Cupboard issued decision quantity 111 of 2022, which regulates digital belongings in an try to supply an “engaging funding, financial and monetary surroundings for international firms and establishments working within the digital belongings sector.“

The SCA formally announced that it’s endeavor the duties of regulating and supervising the digital belongings sector pursuant to the cupboard decision on Feb. 1. In response to the SCA, the decision goals to “make sure the safety of traders’ funds in digital belongings from unlawful practices.” 

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The SCA added that the decision applies to all transactions associated to digital belongings for funding functions, together with the non-financial free zones within the nation. Nevertheless, the regulator additionally specified some limitations. They defined:

“Its provisions don’t apply to digital belongings which might be used for fee functions, as they’re topic to the jurisdiction of the Central Financial institution. Additionally they don’t apply to monetary free zones.”

On Jan. 13, UAE-based blockchain lawyer Irina Heaver spoke with Cointelegraph to explain the implications of the brand new federal digital asset regulation. In response to Heaver, failure to adjust to the brand new regulation may lead to monetary fines of as much as 10 million AED ($2.7 million), disgorgement of earnings and felony investigation by the general public prosecutor.

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