Yeliz Akmaca 
Binance has officially become the first global crypto exchange to secure a full suite of financial licenses from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The approval strengthens the company’s regulatory positioning and immediately boosted BNB’s market performance.
Binance announced that the authorization covers trading, custody, clearing, settlement, and off-exchange services. The newly licensed structure will operate through three regulated entities: Nest Exchange for on-exchange trading, Nest Clearing and Custody for digital asset safeguarding and settlement, and Nest Trading for OTC and off-exchange activities.
Binance noted that achieving full FSRA licensing demonstrates compliance with global standards, enhances consumer protection, and aligns the company with traditional financial-market infrastructure.
Binance Becomes First Exchange to Receive All ADGM Licenses
According to the official announcement, this regulatory milestone positions Binance as the first crypto exchange to secure every major license available under ADGM. Co-CEO Richard Teng highlighted the importance of regulatory clarity and emphasized how the new framework elevates the company’s operational transparency worldwide.
“But for all intents and purposes, if you look at the regulatory sphere, I think the global regulators are more concerned of where we are regulated on a global basis.”
The licensing structure separates Binance’s activities into exchange, clearinghouse, and broker-dealer functions, aligning with ADGM’s stringent regulatory model.
Abu Dhabi Increasingly Seen as Binance’s Global Base
Binance has long avoided giving a definitive answer on where its global headquarters is located. However, Fortune reported that the three ADGM licenses strongly suggest Abu Dhabi could become the company’s de facto global headquarters. Teng declined to confirm the shift, yet his remarks pointed toward the growing relevance of the UAE’s regulatory framework.
Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX acquired a minority stake in Binance with a $2 billion investment, demonstrating the region’s strategic focus on digital assets and blockchain development.
BNB Extends Its Rebound After Licensing Announcement
BNB reacted immediately to the regulatory news. The token rose more than 1% and extended its 24-hour rebound beyond 3%. At the time of writing, BNB is trading around $901.73, after hitting an intraday high of $908.65. Trading volume climbed nearly 25%, while CoinGlass data showed BNB futures open interest rising to $1.40 billion.
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