- Bitpanda acquires VARA license, targets offering over 500 assets to its UAE investors.
- Bitpanda expands globally with VARA approval, marking UAE as its first non-European market.
- With VARA license, Bitpanda sets new regulatory standards for digital assets in the UAE.
Bitpanda obtained its broker-dealer license to operate in Dubai from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Having received oversight from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority allows Bitpanda to deliver digital asset services to UAE investors allowing it to become its first regulated expansion beyond European markets.
The new license allows the digital assets platform to provide over 500 virtual assets in addition to crypto indices and savings plans for users operating in the region. The VARA license allows the digital assets platform to exploit the expanding market need for secure, regulated digital asset services in the United Arab Emirates.
Strategic Entry into the UAE Market
Bitpanda achieved its expansion goal by creating a permanent office at the DMCC Crypto Centre in Dubai. The company selected regional experts to develop services specifically for UAE investor requirements. The digital assets platform expects to start adding users from the UAE market in the upcoming months. This strategic move demonstrates how Bitpanda intends to fulfill the growing market demand for regulated cryptocurrency platforms across the region.
Digital assets now function as a global center in the UAE which VARA supports by enforcing regulatory standards and protecting investors. Launching the digital assets platform services into the UAE market is part of the nation’s strategy to build a safe digital asset trading environment that attracts innovative technology. The deputy CEO at Bitpanda, Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, expressed that the platform aims to build a user base of retail and institutional clients within the UAE by utilizing secure and compliant services.
Bitpanda’s Regulatory Track Record and Growth Potential
Following its previous European regulatory achievements, the digital assets platform secured the VARA license. The company obtained its MiCA license from BaFin in January 2025, allowing it to conduct business in all EU member states under one unified regulatory structure. The licenses held by the digital assets platform include the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) license from the UK, the PSD2 e-money license and the MiFID II license. The company demonstrates its commitment to regulatory standards by issuing multiple licenses.
With a decade of experience in the digital asset space, the digital assets platform has become one of the most trusted platforms for secure virtual asset investments. Fabian Reinisch, Bitpanda’s General Counsel, noted that the quick approval of the VARA license is a testament to the company’s commitment to upholding the highest regulatory standards.