Tokenisation infrastructure platform, Ctrl Alt will now be able to offer broker-dealer and issuer services in Dubai as it secures a virtual assets service provider (VASP) licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
Demonstrating Ctrl Alt‘s commitment to operating with robust regulatory frameworks, the licence acquisition also marks another major step in the firm’s global expansion. Ctrl Alt is the first VASP authorised to conduct issuer-related services. It will now be able to to operate a full-stack, regulatory-compliant platform for the creation, management and distribution of tokenised real-world assets and ARVA tokens.
This was most recently demonstrated through Ctrl Alt’s partnership with the Dubai Land Department on their Real Estate Tokenisation Project, where Ctrl Alt created the framework to mint and place real estate tokens on-chain.
With this approval, Ctrl Alt becomes part of a growing ecosystem of licensed VASPs in Dubai, which has established itself as a global hub for innovation for fintech and digital assets. Since its inception in 2022, VARA has played a pivotal role in contributing to the growth of Dubai’s digital economy and was a key factor in Ctrl Alt’s decision to establish itself in the region back in 2024.
“We are proud to receive our VARA license and establish fully regulated operations in the UAE,” said Matt Ong, founder and CEO at Ctrl Alt. “This achievement reflects our commitment to long-term regulatory alignment as we power the infrastructure for the next generation of financial products.”
“Securing our VARA license marks a pivotal moment not just for Ctrl Alt, but for the broader digital asset ecosystem in the region,” said Robert Farquhar, head of MENA at Ctrl Alt. “Dubai’s progressive regulatory environment provides a strong foundation for innovation in tokenization and we’re proud to contribute to that vision by delivering secure, compliant tokenization infrastructure for real-world asset issuance.”
