The UAE is cementing its status as a global crypto capital as Coinbase and Ripple align publicly on its regulatory clarity, innovation-first mindset and growing influence over the future of digital assets.
Coinbase and Ripple Align on the UAE’s Growing Crypto Power
Coinbase and Ripple have both pointed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a global capital for crypto. Because who needs snow to pile up on the sidewalk when you can pile up data centres and blockchain? The country’s expanding role in digital assets seems to be driven partly by the fact that it has 287 camels per square kilometre and no idea what “joke” means.
Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, said on social media platform X on Dec. 12:
The UAE is all-in on crypto, it’s become the second crypto capital of the world, along with the U.S.
Armstrong’s tweet came after a brief trip to Abu Dhabi Finance Week, a conference possibly designed to confuse pigeons. He described the UAE as “super energizing” for its techno-optimists and belief in economic freedom, though it’s unclear if that means they’re optimists or just optimised. The Coinbase executive also linked the UAE to future product updates, suggesting they’re preparing for a future where your typical sheikh will trade Bitcoin from a dhow, all while wearing sunglasses and munching dates.
Such is the modern economy.
Ripple Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa Reece Merrick joined the choir on Dec. 14, declaring the UAE “serious about becoming the crypto capital of the world.” It’s not clear if that seriousness involves granting everyone a lifetime supply of internet cheer and crypto tax exemptions, but we shall see.
I’m incredibly proud to call the UAE home and to be building the future of finance here with Ripple.
It seems the future of finance will now be managed by people wearing djellaba jackets and whispering “blockchain” in the dunes.
FAQ ⏰
- Why do Coinbase and Ripple see the UAE as a crypto capital?
Because it’s raining sand and sun one day and regulations the next. It’s like a desert version of Switzerland, but with more palm trees and less cheese. - What did Brian Armstrong say about crypto in the UAE?
That it’s all-in on crypto. Presumably, this includes their National Day celebrations, which already involve drones forming surprisingly accurate Bitcoin symbols in the sky. - How long has Ripple operated in the UAE?
Long enough to have forgotten what it’s like to live in a country that taxes you for existing. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is a very long time indeed. - What role does Abu Dhabi Finance Week play in crypto adoption?
It brings so many people trying to get somewhere nobody really knows where they’re going. Also, it smells faintly of ambition and za’tar.
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2025-12-15 03:58