UAE Grants Initial Approval to Bitcoin Suisse for Crypto Operations

Swiss-based Bitcoin Suisse is preparing to break new ground outside Europe after securing initial regulatory approval in the United Arab Emirates.

The crypto finance firm received an in-principle license from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), allowing it to advance toward offering fully regulated crypto services in the region.

Operating through its BTCS (Middle East) arm, the firm aims to roll out trading, custody, and derivatives products once full authorization is granted. According to Ceyda Majcen, who leads global expansion efforts, Abu Dhabi offers fertile ground for growth due to its fast-developing financial ecosystem and regulatory clarity.

Founded in 2013, Bitcoin Suisse has long been a cornerstone of Switzerland’s Crypto Valley and now looks to bring its expertise to a new frontier in digital finance.

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The approval puts Bitcoin Suisse in good company. In recent weeks, stablecoin issuer Circle and the Stacks Asia DLT Foundation have also taken major steps to establish a regulatory foothold in the UAE, betting on the region’s growing role as a global crypto hub.

With jurisdictions like Abu Dhabi embracing digital assets through clear, business-friendly regulation, traditional crypto firms are increasingly shifting their focus from Western markets to the Gulf.

As momentum builds in the Middle East, Bitcoin Suisse’s move signals more than expansion—it’s a strategic pivot into what could become crypto’s next power center.

Alexander Stefanov