ADGM-based Universal Digital Intl Limited has announced a landmark achievement for the UAE’s digital asset ecosystem. The firm has become the first Foreign Payment Token Issuer registered by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), launching USDU, the first USD-backed stablecoin to be registered under the nation’s Payment Token Services Regulation (PTSR). This development establishes the country’s first compliant, USD-denominated settlement pathway for digital assets, positioning the UAE as a global leader in regulated digital finance.
A Milestone for the UAE’s Digital Asset Framework
Under the CBUAE’s PTSR framework, payments for digital assets and their derivatives are restricted to fiat currency or a Registered Foreign Payment Token. USDU’s registration provides the clarity and regulatory green light that institutional players have been seeking, creating a clear and compliant settlement option for the UAE’s burgeoning digital-asset market. This move effectively solidifies a regulatory structure for stablecoins that many international markets are still developing.
“USDU sets a new benchmark for regulated digital value,” said Juha Viitala, SEO of Universal. “Being the first Foreign Payment Token registered by the UAE Central Bank – and supported by leading UAE banks – gives institutions the clarity and confidence they have been waiting for. It lays the groundwork for a more transparent and efficient digital-asset market in the UAE and beyond.”
Backed by Regional Banking Giants
To bolster institutional confidence, USDU is fully backed 1:1 with U.S. dollar reserves safeguarded in onshore accounts at leading UAE banks, Emirates NBD and Mashreq. Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank) is also onboard as a strategic corporate banking partner. The reserves undergo a monthly independent attestation by a global accounting firm, ensuring a high standard of transparency.
“We are pleased to support Universal’s introduction of USDU to the UAE’s financial services ecosystem,” commented Anith Daniel, Group Head of Transaction Banking Services at Emirates NBD. “We continue to support solutions that bolster the nation’s rapidly developing, well-regulated digital-asset infrastructure.”
Joel Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Mashreq, added, “We see growing institutional interest in regulated digital-value instruments, and Universal’s introduction of USDU is a timely step that supports this market’s maturation.”
Strategic Partnerships to Drive Adoption
Universal is building a robust ecosystem around USDU through key collaborations. A partnership with Aquanow, a global digital asset infrastructure provider regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), will integrate USDU into the broader digital asset landscape through its established network.
“Universal’s introduction of USDU underscores the continued maturation of regulated digital settlement assets,” said Phil Sham, CEO of Aquanow. “Aquanow’s platform is built to support this evolution by providing institutions with secure, compliant market access, and we are pleased to support the distribution of USDU.”
Furthermore, Universal is collaborating with AECoin, the first licensed AED stablecoin, to enable future USDU-AECoin conversions, facilitating seamless domestic settlement.
About Universal Digital Intl Limited
Universal Digital Intl Limited (“Universal”) is established in ADGM and regulated by the FSRA to issue a Fiat-Referenced Token to Professional Clients only. Universal is also a Registered Foreign Payment Token Issuer with the CBUAE under the PTSR and is the issuer of USDU, a fully USD-backed stablecoin. Committed to pioneering secure, transparent, and fully regulated digital assets, Universal drives innovation within the UAE’s expanding virtual asset ecosystem through trusted institutional-grade solutions.
Source: Fintech News AE
