Startale Group Expands Into Abu Dhabi Through Hub71 Digital Assets Cohort

Startale Group is expanding into Abu Dhabi after joining Hub71’s digital assets ecosystem, a move that places the blockchain infrastructure company closer to one of the region’s most institutionally backed crypto markets. The company said it will establish operations in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), as it looks to deepen engagement with regulators, investors, and strategic partners in the UAE and beyond.

The step is notable not only because of Abu Dhabi’s growing role in digital assets, but because it reflects a broader shift among infrastructure firms toward jurisdictions that combine regulatory structure with state-backed ecosystem support. Hub71 describes its Hub71+ Digital Assets platform as a dedicated Web3 growth program designed to connect startups with government partners, corporate networks, investors, and market access from Abu Dhabi.

Startale said the expansion follows its $63 million Series A, completed in March through backing from SBI Group and Sony Innovation Fund. According to the company, that capital will be used to accelerate infrastructure across tokenized finance, stablecoins, and consumer-facing onchain applications.

“Hub71 and Abu Dhabi Global Market provide the regulatory clarity and global reach we need to scale Startale’s ecosystem responsibly,” said Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Group. “Abu Dhabi is becoming a key hub for digital assets, and joining this cohort positions us to expand across Eastern and Western markets, working closely with regulators and institutional partners.”

Startale’s business now spans several layers of crypto infrastructure. The group operates Astar Network, is involved in Soneium through Sony Block Solutions Labs, and is building out Strium, the Startale App, and stablecoin initiatives including JPYSC and USDSC. In recent company materials, Startale has framed that strategy as a vertically integrated push across blockchain infrastructure, financial rails, and user-facing products.

That makes Abu Dhabi a logical next stop. ADGM has spent the past several years building a regulatory environment that appeals to digital asset firms looking for a more defined framework, while Hub71 has increasingly positioned itself as a gateway for companies seeking both local market entry and international scaling support.

Under the Hub71+ Digital Assets platform, Startale said it will expand across three core areas: blockchain infrastructure through Soneium and Strium, the Startale App, and its stablecoin initiatives. It also plans to deploy personnel in Abu Dhabi and use the emirate as a base for expansion across the Middle East and other global markets.

“We are pleased to welcome Startale Group into Hub71’s Cohort 18. Their focus on digital asset infrastructure reflects the strength of our specialist ecosystems and the calibre of founders choosing Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for global growth. We look forward to supporting their expansion,” said Divya Claudia Nair, Startup Journey Lead at Hub71.

Startale’s statement said it was selected as one of 27 companies from more than 2,400 applicants. While that figure appears in the company’s announcement and in syndications of it, Hub71’s public program pages do not yet appear to carry the same cohort breakdown, so the claim is best treated as attributed rather than independently confirmed for now.

The move also says something larger about where the market is heading. As crypto matures, companies building the underlying rails of tokenized finance and onchain payments are no longer just looking for friendly narratives. They are increasingly choosing jurisdictions that offer regulatory credibility, institutional access, and a clearer pathway to scale. In that context, Startale’s Abu Dhabi entry is less a regional office announcement than a signal of where serious infrastructure players believe the next phase of growth will happen. Based on Startale’s product stack and Hub71’s positioning, that is a grounded inference rather than a direct company statement.