Crypto.com has entered a strategic partnership with Emirates Coin Investment LLC (EmCoin), the United Arab Emirates' first virtual asset trading platform licensed by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on January 15, 2026.
The core objective of the alliance is to enhance digital asset access and trading efficiency for EmCoin's users in the UAE. By leveraging Crypto.com's global liquidity pools and trading infrastructure, the partnership aims to provide EmCoin users with seamless access to a broader range of crypto assets, improved trade execution, and tighter spreads. The initiative is pending final regulatory approval from the SCA.
A key component of the MoU involves the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). Crypto.com will support this effort using networks like its own Cronos EVM chain, aligning with the UAE's comprehensive regulatory framework established in 2025. This move is part of a broader national drive towards RWA adoption and regulated digital finance.
Executives from both companies emphasized the partnership's significance. Crypto.com's COO and President, Eric Anziani, stated the initiative aligns with their core mission of enabling safe and regulated interaction with digital assets and supports the ambition to serve one billion users globally. Alain Yacine, President of Middle East and Latin America for Crypto.com, highlighted that working with innovators like EmCoin advances regional digital asset adoption.
Yasin Arafat, Chief Operations Officer of EmCoin, noted that the partnership combines expertise and enhanced liquidity to support large trade volumes, making digital asset holdings easier to access, manage, and transact.
The partnership occurs within the context of the UAE's aggressive push to become a global hub for regulated digital asset financing. The nation has implemented a leading crypto regulatory framework and recently authorized Binance's first global license within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Furthermore, the UAE's sovereign wealth funds, managing approximately $2 trillion, are reportedly actively investing or planning to invest in decentralized finance.
