UAE’s Digital Asset Market Pushes Tokenised Gold and Stablecoins Toward Mainstream Finance
Growing adoption of blockchain-based assets is creating new opportunities in payments, wealth management and international money transfers
The UAE’s expanding digital-asset sector is increasingly moving beyond cryptocurrency investment, with stablecoins, tokenised gold and blockchain-based financial services gaining attention as potential tools for everyday financial activity.
Industry specialists discussed the changing role of digital assets during a panel at the Banking Innovation & Technology Summit (BIT) 2026, where the focus was on how stablecoins and other tokenised assets could become part of routine payments and financial settlements.
The discussion, titled “Stablecoins Go Live: From Dirham-Backed Tokens to Everyday Settlement,” brought together Ramana Kumar, President of Stablecoin Ecosystem at ADI Foundation; Gaurav Mathur, Founder and Managing Director of SafeGold; and Serena Sebastiani, Chief Strategy Officer at Fuze Finance.
The speakers examined how digital assets could increasingly be used for purposes extending beyond trading, including payments, settlement services and wealth management.
Tokenised gold could give investors greater flexibility
One of the key areas discussed was the potential of tokenised gold to make the precious metal easier to own, transfer and use digitally.
Kumar noted that gold has historically served both as a store of value and a means of exchange. However, the physical nature and value of gold can make it difficult to divide or transport for everyday transactions.
Tokenisation could help overcome these limitations by representing gold digitally, allowing smaller amounts to be held and transferred through digital platforms.
From a consumer perspective, Kumar said this could make gold more accessible as an investment while also creating the possibility of using digital gold in a manner similar to a stable-value digital asset.
The connection between digital and physical gold could also provide additional flexibility. Token holders could potentially exchange their digital holdings for physical gold through participating retailers, including jewellers.
Although consumers may not frequently choose to redeem their digital holdings for physical metal, the availability of that option could strengthen the appeal of tokenised gold as a long-term store of value.
UAE strengthens its position in digital assets
The discussion also highlighted the UAE’s growing reputation as a favourable environment for blockchain, cryptocurrency and stablecoin-related businesses.
Sebastiani said the country’s willingness to support digital-asset innovation, alongside the development of regulatory frameworks, has helped strengthen its position within the global crypto industry.
The UAE has increasingly sought to establish itself as a centre for financial technology and digital assets, creating an environment in which companies can explore blockchain-based payment and settlement solutions.
Cross-border finance becomes increasingly important
The growth of digital assets is also closely connected to the changing financial needs of people who earn, save or invest across multiple countries.
Globally mobile workers, freelancers and expatriates can receive income in one currency while living and spending in another. This can create challenges when traditional financial services remain largely focused on domestic banking systems.
David Henry, Chief Product Officer at Mal, pointed to the growing need for financial products that can better serve consumers with international sources of income.
For these users, the ability to receive money internationally and maintain funds in currencies considered more stable could provide greater flexibility in managing personal finances.
Henry also highlighted demand for digital tools that help consumers plan their financial futures. As more people look for ways to manage savings, investments and retirement planning, services such as financial calculators and digital wealth-management tools could become increasingly important.
Digital assets move closer to everyday use
The developments discussed at the summit suggest that the UAE’s digital-asset sector is gradually broadening beyond speculative cryptocurrency trading.
Stablecoins could support payments and settlement, while tokenised gold could provide a digital route to investing in a traditional store of value. At the same time, blockchain-based financial services could make cross-border transactions and wealth management more accessible.
As the UAE continues developing its digital-asset ecosystem, these technologies could play a larger role in how individuals and businesses save, transfer, invest and manage money.
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