8 December 2025: – Tether, the largest company in the digital assets industry, announced today, that USD₮ issued on a number of major blockchains has been recognised as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token (AFRT) within ADGM. The recognition allows Authorised Persons licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM to offer Regulated Activities involving USD₮ on Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON, and TRON.
This milestone follows continued close engagement with the FSRA to demonstrate the resilience, transparency, and compliance-focused approach of Tether’s operations. This approval brings expanded access for ADGM Authorised Persons to the world’s most widely used stablecoin across multiple blockchain networks.
“The UAE continues to set the global standard for digital asset regulation, and Tether is proud to contribute to this leadership,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “This milestone highlights Tether’s dedication to advancing financial inclusion and innovation on a global scale. Introducing USD₮ within ADGM’s regulated digital asset framework reinforces the role of stablecoins as essential components of today’s financial landscape. It also creates fresh opportunities for collaboration and growth throughout the Middle East. By extending recognition to USD₮ on several major blockchains, ADGM further strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for compliant digital finance.”
The approval builds upon ADGM’s previous recognition of USD₮ on Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, and forms part of a broader wave of new network approvals that extends USD₮’s regulatory coverage far beyond the original three chains. Together, these approvals reinforce ADGM’s forward-thinking approach, creating a comprehensive multi-chain foundation for USD₮ within one of the world’s most respected digital-asset jurisdictions. This allows ADGM Authorised Persons to support a broader range of blockchain networks.
With this decision, Tether now has USD₮ recognized on nearly all the major blockchains it supports, including Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON and TRON.
This multi-chain approval enhances interoperability across the global financial system, allowing USD₮ to function as a reliable settlement asset for trading and decentralized applications, while maintaining the AFRT criteria and safeguards required by the FSRA. It also demonstrates how collaboration between innovators and regulators can expand financial access without compromising compliance or security.
Tether’s ongoing collaboration in ADGM aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to integrate blockchain technology into its financial system while maintaining robust oversight and investor protection. The inclusion of USD₮ within this framework enhances liquidity, interoperability, and the diversity of blockchain infrastructure available to users and institutions operating in the region.
For more information on Tether and its suite of digital assets, visit www.tether.io
*USD₮ is available as an AFRT for use in ADGM on Aptos, Avalanche, Celo, Cosmos, Ethereum, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Solana, Tezos, TON, and TRON blockchains.