Optio News reports a major step forward for regulated digital assets in the Middle East. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin received approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token. This decision strengthens the global shift toward regulated stablecoins and expands RLUSD’s role inside one of the most influential financial jurisdictions in the region.
The approval lets licensed firms inside ADGM hold, transact, and integrate RLUSD into their financial operations. Banks, asset managers, custody providers, lending desks, and payment companies gain a compliant path to use RLUSD for settlement, collateral, liquidity, and treasury functions. Firms must follow strict rules on reserves, custody of client assets, audits, reporting, and operational standards.
This move also strengthens the UAE’s position as a global hub for digital-asset regulation. Earlier this year, Dubai’s DFSA approved RLUSD for use inside the Dubai International Financial Centre. With approvals now in both DIFC and ADGM, RLUSD sits inside two of the region’s most important regulatory frameworks. That gives institutional players a single, consistent environment to integrate RLUSD into cross-border payments, trade finance, and digital-asset infrastructure.
RLUSD holds a market cap above 1.2 billion dollars. It is backed 1:1 with U.S. dollars in liquid assets verified by independent attestation. These characteristics position RLUSD as a serious option for institutions that need stability, transparency, and compliance.
For Ripple, the ADGM approval strengthens RLUSD’s position in global finance. For the broader digital-asset industry, it signals that regulators are moving toward stablecoins backed by verifiable reserves and clear governance. The decision also pushes more financial institutions toward asset tokenization and blockchain settlement as part of their operational stack.
The UAE’s regulatory momentum reflects a wider pattern. Global regulators have increased pressure on stablecoin issuers to hold transparent reserves and meet higher governance standards. ADGM’s decision shows that compliant stablecoins will play a growing role in regulated finance.
Optio News will continue to track stablecoin adoption, institutional blockchain growth, and regulatory frameworks shaping the next wave of digital finance.
References:
Coindesk: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/11/27/ripple-s-rlusd-stablecoin-wins-key-regulatory-green-light-in-uae
BanklessTimes: https://www.banklesstimes.com/articles/2025/11/27/ripples-rlusd-approved-by-abu-dhabis-fsra-as-accepted-fiat-referenced-token
The Block: https://www.theblock.co/post/356731/ripples-rlusd-stablecoin-approved-by-dubai-regulator-for-use-in-citys-financial-hub
CryptoNinjas: https://www.cryptoninjas.net/news/ripples-1-2b-rlusd-stablecoin-wins-adgm-approval-targeting-middle-east-institutionals
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