By Staff Writer
GFO-X AD receives In-Principle Approval from ADGM’s FSRA to operate as a Recognised Investment Exchange and Clearing House for digital assets.
The platform will run 24/7, allowing digital assets to be used as margin and offering both cash-settled and physically delivered derivatives.
GFO-X AD is targeting a 2026 launch, building on the group’s presence in the UK and Hong Kong.
Abu Dhabi’s ADGM continues to strengthen its role as a global hub for digital assets with the news that Global Futures and Options Abu Dhabi Exchange Limited and GFO-X Abu Dhabi CCP Limited (together, GFO-X AD) have received In-Principle Approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
The approvals will allow GFO-X AD to operate as a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE) and a Recognised Clearing House (RCH) for digital assets and related derivatives.
For GFO-X Group, the move into Abu Dhabi represents the latest step in its international expansion. The group already runs GFO-X UK, which was the first FCA-authorised, centrally cleared digital asset derivatives Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) in the UK, and also has a strong technology base in Hong Kong.
With ADGM added to the mix, institutions now have the option of trading digital asset derivatives across multiple leading financial centres, all within trusted regulatory frameworks. The appeal of Abu Dhabi’s regulatory environment was a key driver, with ADGM widely seen as one of the most advanced jurisdictions for digital asset oversight.
One of the standout features of the upcoming Abu Dhabi platform is that it will allow digital assets to be used as margin within a centrally cleared format. This is a setup designed to break down some of the barriers that have historically held institutions back from entering the market.
By centralising clearing, GFO-X AD aims to solve counterparty and credit risk concerns, as well as long-standing inefficiencies in collateral management. The exchange is set to operate 24/7, offering both cash-settled and physically delivered derivatives, plus other listed products to appeal to both institutional and crypto-native traders.
Arnab Sen, CEO of GFO-X, called the approval a major milestone:
“This approval is a pivotal step in our journey to build a globally interconnected, regulated marketplace for digital asset derivatives and complementary products. ADGM’s regulatory sophistication and institutional-grade infrastructure make it an ideal jurisdiction for our next phase of growth to support digital assets and the benefits of collateral mobility.”
ADGM has made no secret of its ambitions to become a leading global hub for digital assets. Over the past few years, it has rolled out one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks in the world, attracting exchanges, custodians and fintech innovators to its space.
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, said the approval highlights the centre’s strength as a home for innovation in digital finance:
“We congratulate GFO-X Group on receiving their IPA from the FSRA of ADGM to establish a Global Digital Asset Exchange and Clearing Infrastructure within ADGM, the world’s leading international financial centre for digital assets. ADGM has consistently set the benchmark for progressive and robust financial regulation in this space, creating an environment where innovation and trust go hand in hand. Its comprehensive ecosystem, supportive framework, and forward-looking vision make it the ideal home for building a platform of global scale and integrity. We look forward to their contributions to ADGM’s thriving digital asset community and the continued growth of Abu Dhabi as a hub for the future of finance.”
GFO-X AD is currently in advanced discussions with institutional partners and is targeting a full launch in 2026. The exchange says it will bring round-the-clock regulated access, institutional-grade clearing and collateral mobility at scale, integrating digital assets and tokenised real-world assets into mainstream finance.
