The Registration Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has published the region's first dedicated guidance for cryptocurrency mining activity within an international financial centre, positioning Abu Dhabi among the earliest hubs in the region to set clear rules for the sector.
Under the guidance, crypto mining is classified as a licensable commercial activity rather than a regulated financial service. Businesses wishing to carry out mining operations within or from ADGM must obtain a commercial licence under activity code 7230, issued under Section 23 of the Commercial Licensing Regulations 2025.
The guidance is technology-neutral, covering both proof-of-work and proof-of-stake mechanisms, and sets out licensing, governance and oversight expectations aimed at encouraging responsible mining practices.
Rashed Al Blooshi, chief executive of ADGM's Registration Authority, said: "With this guidance, ADGM is open for responsible crypto mining. We are giving operators a clear commercial licensing pathway." He added that Abu Dhabi views crypto mining as sitting at the intersection of energy, technology and capital, and that companies meeting governance standards will be able to operate with regulatory certainty.
Officials described the move as the first phase of a broader plan, with a fuller regulatory framework and market consultation expected to follow. The guidance builds on ADGM's wider push to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for cryptocurrency and digital asset businesses, following recent amendments that streamlined virtual asset licensing in the emirate.
The step comes as several financial centres worldwide weigh how to regulate the energy-intensive mining industry, giving operators in Abu Dhabi a relatively clear starting point compared with many jurisdictions still working out their approach.