UAE virtual assets exchange starts trading crypto

UAE based MidChains, virtual asset trading exchange platform operating out of Abu Dhabi's Hub71 cohort, starts trading crypto and has completed its first crypto trades across all their listed assets as a fully regulated and supervised trading platform acting under the Financial Services Regulatory Authority’s (FSRA) regulatory framework of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

MidChains has confirmed trades across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash and is the first regulated platform in the UAE to have conducted trades across all these virtual  assets on September 1. MidChains’ current listed crypto assets for trading make up more than 65% of the global market cap of the cryptocurrency market.

As one of the first fully regulated virtual asset trading platforms in Abu Dhabi, MidChains is backed by notable regional and international investors including Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), Miami International Holdings, and DisruptAD, ADQ’s venture platform. MidChains is the first and only fully-regulated virtual asset trading platform to receive sovereign wealth fund backing in the region.

"We are thrilled to have completed our first trades on the MidChains platform, andgiving our clients – whether they are institutions or individuals – the ability to trade freely, safely and equally,” said Basil Al Askari, co-founder and CEO of MidChains. “ADGM has a robust virtual asset regulatory framework which gives market participants that the peace of mind to put their capital to work to trade, store, and withdraw virtual assets. We are proudly an Emirati company building a global business.”

H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, stated, “Abu Dhabi’s FinTech industry is moving forward at pace with the introduction of revolutionary solutions and technology that improve the offering across the entire ecosystem. With its innovation-first mindset, MidChains is set to transform the way that trading is conducted across the UAE and beyond. We congratulate MidChains on completing its inaugural trades and look forward to celebrating the future successes of a homegrown innovator.”

Ibrahim Ajami, Head of Ventures & Growth at Mubadala, added: “Completing its inaugural trades is a significant milestone for MidChains. Mubadala is committed to investing in homegrown entrepreneurs creating innovative new businesses, and we invested in MidChains early in its lifecycle based on our belief in its ability to bring virtual asset trading to the region in a secure and regulated way. We are pleased to see the company’s trading platform now fully operational, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

Thomas P. Gallagher, Chairman of MGEX and Chairman & CEO of MIAX, confirmed, “We congratulate MidChains on completing its first trades and believe the launch of the platform is a critical milestone on its path to become an integral part of the global digital trading ecosystem.  MidChains has assembled an exceptional management team and as it executes on its business model we believe it will become the preeminent  platform for trading digital assets, both in the UAE and throughout the world.”