ADGM Financial Zone With Over $635B in AUM Signs MoU With Chainlink to Connect Traditional Finance to Blockchain Data

The agreement will allow ADGM to use Chainlink's suite of tools, such as data feeds and interoperability technology

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a financial zone with over $635 billion in assets under management, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chainlink to connect the world of traditional finance with blockchain data.

The agreement will see ADGM use Chainlink’s suite of tools, such as data feeds and interoperability technology, to provide seamless integration between Web3 services and ADGM’s financial institutions. The partnership will also facilitate further discussion around blockchain, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies in the region.

ADGM is a financial free zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that launched in 2015. It operates under its own civil and commercial legal system, which is based on English Common Law. Designed to enhance Abu Dhabi’s standing as a financial hub, ADGM plays a crucial role in attracting global firms and expanding the city’s financial services sector.

By the close of 2024, ADGM had become home to 134 asset and fund managers overseeing 166 funds. The total number of financial institutions operating within its jurisdiction reached 275, with 79 new firms joining the fold throughout the year. Among the fresh additions were industry heavyweights like BlackRock, PGIM, and Morgan Stanley.

What is Chainlink and how does it work?

UAE sees rising crypto adoption

Cryptocurrency adoption in the UAE has been increasing rapidly, thanks in part to the government’s openness to the emerging technology. According to Statista, the country saw a 41% increase in crypto app downloads in 2024 compared to 2023. In addition, the UAE ranked third out of 28 countries in the Henley Crypto Adoption Index 2024.

Abu Dhabi in particular has been a hot spot for crypto firms. In December 2024, the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority officially recognised Tether’s USDT (USDT) stablecoin as an accepted virtual asset. The move paved the way for the cryptocurrency’s integration into the local financial ecosystem.

On March 12, Binance announced that MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, had invested $2 billion into the exchange, one of the largest funding deals in the crypto industry.

Dubai, another Emirate in the UAE, has also shown itself open to cryptocurrency businesses. In February, Dubai approved USDC (USDC) and EURC as the first two stablecoins under its new cryptocurrency regulatory regime.