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OKX Follows Path Towards Dubai Licensing

Policy & Regulation·June 15, 2023, 11:32 PM

Seychelles-headquartered OKX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has expressed its intention to seek regulatory approval for operating in Dubai as part of its expansion strategy in the Middle East.

With that objective, the company has obtained a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) preparatory license, an interim step on its path towards full licensing. That’s according to a press release published on Thursday.

Tim Byun, OKX’s Global Head of Government Relations, emphasized the growing trend of regulation within the industry. In an interview with Reuters, Byun stated: “We would like to get ahead of that curve and be regulated in a sound manner.” The move comes in the wake of recent legal action taken by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States against Binance and Coinbase, two of the largest crypto exchanges, for alleged breaches of SEC rules.

Photo by Marcus Herzberg on Pexels

 

Switching to Dubai

Byun believes that the SEC’s actions will compel more market participants to seek out innovative regulators such as Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA).

To support its expansion plans, OKX intends to hire 30 staff members following the opening of an office last month in the Dubai World Trade Center, strategically located in the business and financial hub of the United Arab Emirates.

Byun further explained that by expanding its services from Dubai to jurisdictions like Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, where no domestic regulatory framework is in place, the local populations would benefit significantly from OKX’s regulation under an international regulator.

 

Following Bahamian regulation

Currently regulated in the Bahamas, OKX does not allow customers from the United States to utilize its platform due to regulatory concerns. Following the collapse of FTX in November of last year, the Bahamas has suffered reputationally.

It’s seen as a jurisdiction with much looser regulation and as the FTX debacle demonstrated, one that proved to be totally ineffective in preventing the epic fraud that occurred in that instance.

 

Effective regulatory framework

In contrast, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in general seem to be making a much better effort towards a workable yet effective regulatory framework. Established in March 2022, VARA serves as the regulatory authority overseeing the burgeoning virtual asset sector in Dubai, excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre financial free zone. The United Arab Emirates has been actively working towards positioning itself to become a global crypto industry hub.

No company has yet obtained a license for VARA’s full market product (FMP) stage, which would grant permission to serve retail clients. Byun revealed that OKX intends to apply for such a license.

Byun concluded by expressing OKX’s willingness to be regulated and licensed in jurisdictions that adopt a balanced, clear, and transparent approach to the industry. The exchange is committed to operating within frameworks that prioritize investor protection and promote market integrity.

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