Circle Gets Green Light to Expand Services in Abu Dhabi

• Circle received In-Principle Approval from Abu Dhabi’s FSRA to offer digital financial services in the UAE.
• Circle launched a real-time payment network aiming to modernize cross-border transactions and reduce dependency on traditional systems.

Circle is now increasingly firmly established in the Middle East. In April 2025, the company behind the USDC stablecoin successfully obtained In-Principle Approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) at the Abu Dhabi Global Market.

With this approval, Circle is one step away from obtaining a full license to offer financial services in the United Arab Emirates. What does that mean? They are allowed to open stablecoin-based remittance and payment services directly from Abu Dhabi.

BREAKING

$USDC issuer Circle receives approval to operate as money services provider in Abu Dhabi, UAE. pic.twitter.com/T27vhIrr2d

— Crypto Aman (@cryptoamanclub) April 29, 2025

Circle Steps Up With Cross-Border Payments Through CPN

This step certainly did not just come out of nowhere. In recent months, Circle has indeed been seen to be increasingly aggressive in expanding its influence, especially in terms of global payment infrastructure. Just imagine, on April 21, they just launched the Circle Payments Network—CPN.

This is not just a feature, but a cross-border payment and remittance network that allows transactions between financial institutions and service providers to be carried out in real-time. It is not only faster than traditional systems such as SWIFT, but also more efficient due to its reduced processing time and fewer intermediaries.

Support from Capital Market Giants and Technology Partners

On the other hand, CNF previously reported that Circle has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. This collaboration is designed to explore the use of USDC and USYC stablecoins in capital market infrastructure.

NYSE President Lynn Martin has openly said that stablecoins could play a bigger role in the financial system in the future. This is not just empty praise—it is a signal that the traditional financial world is starting to look at digital assets not as competitors, but as solutions.

Not only that, Circle has also collaborated with Copper, a digital asset custodian company with a solid reputation. On April 24, they announced that Copper’s institutional clients can now complete transactions using USDC through the ClearLoop system—without having to bother moving assets outside the platform. Just imagine if local banks could adopt a model like this, sending funds across borders could be like sending WhatsApp.

Furthermore, Circle is also increasingly confident because there are positive signals from the United States itself. At TIME100 Talks on April 26, their Chief Strategy Officer, Dante Disparte, stated that the direction of digital asset regulation in the US is increasingly clear.

He said that the bipartisan support in Congress for the STABLE Act and GENIUS Act shows a commitment to principles-based regulation—not blanket bans. With such regulation, stablecoins like USDC can operate on a solid legal basis, not just ‘just for the sake of it.’

Circle is also expanding its influence through a partnership with Hub71 in Abu Dhabi, a tech ecosystem home to over 500 startups. Through this partnership, Circle will join the digital regulatory sandbox and become part of the region’s digital asset specialist ecosystem. It’s like getting a VIP ticket to the Middle East’s Web3 growth center.