Animoca Brands Gets Green Light for Fund Management in Abu Dhabi

Highlights:

• Animoca Brands gets first approval in Abu Dhabi to become a regulated fund.
• Approval allows Animoca to manage funds and grow in NFTs, gaming, and digital assets.
• Animoca also plans a reverse merger with Currenc Group to return to public markets.

Animoca Brands, a company working on blockchain and Web3 assets, got its second in-principle approval in the United Arab Emirates. The first was from VARA Dubai for a crypto broker licence, and now the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi has approved it as a regulated Fund Manager.

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Conditional Approval Boosts Animoca’s Institutional Role

According to the press release, the Fund Manager licence is conditional and needs final regulatory approval. Once approved, Animoca Brands can manage a Collective Investment Fund in or from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This gives the company a stronger role in gaming, NFTs, and digital assets and moves it further into institutional markets.

Omar Elassar, managing director for the Middle East and head of global strategic partnerships at Animoca Brands, said the UAE is growing in Web3 and digital assets. He added that this approval helps their plan to create regulated ways for institutions to join while still working with founders and businesses across the ecosystem.

We’re pleased to announce that we have received in-principle approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM (@ADGlobalMarket), the international financial center of Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the UAE, to operate as a regulated Fund Manager.…

— Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) November 24, 2025

Animoca Brands is a digital asset advisory and investment firm. It supports over 600 companies. The FSRA gave it initial approval. This gives clearer rules for raising money and managing funds. It will help the company grow. Animoca Brands already works from Dubai to support Web3 in the Middle East. The Abu Dhabi approval, though conditional, helps it build a regulated presence in the region. ADGM officials said this step brings blockchain and digital asset companies under clear rules. It also encourages institutions to join and follow regulations.

Animoca Brands Plans Return to Public Markets with $1 Billion Deal

Animoca Brands is working on regulatory approvals and plans to return to public markets. This month, it made a non-binding deal with Nasdaq-listed Currenc Group for a reverse merger. The deal aims for a $1 billion value and may finish by the end of 2026.

In the deal, Animoca shareholders would own around 95% of the new company. Current shareholders would get about 5%. This would be Animoca’s return to public markets after it left the Australian Securities Exchange in 2020 due to governance and crypto issues.

NEWS: Animoca Brands plans Nasdaq listing through reverse merger👇https://t.co/c6AvZNqGn1

— Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) November 3, 2025

Abu Dhabi’s FSRA Requires Full Compliance Before Companies Can Start Operations

In Abu Dhabi, getting in-principle approval does not let a company start regulated work right away. Companies must first give detailed business plans, ownership details, financial projections, and rules for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. The FSRA checks technology, custody systems, and key staff, including senior executives and compliance officers. Approval is conditional. Companies must meet capital rules, finish systems, get residence visas for staff, and complete third-party audits.

When all conditions are met, the FSRA gives full Financial Services Permission. Companies can register in ADGM, get a commercial licence, and start regulated activities like trading, custody, or advisory services for virtual assets. Well-prepared companies usually finish this process in a few months.

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