TLDR

  • Animoca Brands was granted a VASP license by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority on February 5, 2026
  • The license enables Animoca to provide broker-dealer services and investment management to institutional and qualified investors in Dubai
  • Animoca Brands holds an investment portfolio covering over 600 companies and digital assets
  • In 2025, the company revealed plans for a Nasdaq reverse merger with Currenc Group Inc., which is anticipated to conclude in 2026
  • For 2026, Animoca is prioritizing stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization efforts

On February 5, 2026, Animoca Brands obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. This approval lets the Hong Kong-headquartered firm grow its crypto operations throughout the Middle East.

The VASP license allows Animoca Brands to deliver broker-dealer services and investment management for virtual assets in Dubai. These services do not cover the Dubai International Financial Centre and are aimed at institutional and qualified investors.

Omar Elassar, Animoca Brands’ managing director for the Middle East and head of global strategic partnerships, spoke about the license approval. He stated that the license boosts the company’s capacity to collaborate with Web3 foundations and global institutional investors within a regulated structure.

Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority was founded in March 2022. The regulator supervises the provision, use, and exchange of digital assets across Dubai’s mainland and free zones.

Animoca’s Business and Portfolio

Animoca Brands builds blockchain platforms and supports Web3 ecosystems. Its portfolio features Open Campus, Moca Network, and Anichess.

The firm keeps an investment portfolio covering over 600 companies and digital assets. In January 2026, Animoca purchased Somo, a gaming and digital collectibles company.

The acquisition brought Somo’s playable and tradable collectibles into Animoca’s portfolio. The company offers digital asset services to crypto firms and supports early-stage blockchain projects.

Plans for Public Listing

Animoca announced plans in 2025 to go public on Nasdaq via a reverse merger. The company will merge with Currenc Group Inc., a Singapore-based fintech firm specializing in artificial intelligence solutions.

The deal is projected to close in 2026. Following the merger, Animoca shareholders will together hold around 95% of the combined company.

Keyvan Peymani, Animoca’s chief strategy officer, detailed the company’s 2026 priorities in a recent CNBC interview. The firm intends to concentrate on growing its stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization initiatives.

In August 2025, Animoca revealed a Hong Kong joint venture with Standard Chartered and Hong Kong Telecommunications. The venture seeks to apply for a stablecoin issuer license.

Animoca has collaborated with Fosun Wealth and Hang Feng Technology on real-world asset tokenization projects. These efforts align with the company’s 2026 strategic priorities.

The Dubai license expands the company’s regulatory approvals in key markets. BitGo, a digital asset infrastructure firm, secured a broker-dealer license from VARA in October 2025.

In 2025, VARA imposed financial penalties on 19 companies for unlicensed virtual asset activities. The regulator also fined firms for violating VARA’s marketing rules.

Animoca’s VASP license permits operations across Dubai’s mainland and free zones under VARA’s supervision. The company anticipates the license will back its ongoing expansion in the Middle East.