DFSA Advances Tokenisation Strategy with New Regulatory Sandbox Phase
The move signals the regulator's growing commitment to fostering responsible innovation within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Introduced in March 2025, the sandbox drew 96 expressions of interest from across the UAE, UK, EU, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Applicants proposed a range of use cases, including the tokenisation of financial assets such as bonds, sukuk, and fund units, along with trading and custody solutions. The initiative attracted both established institutions and emerging start-ups looking to scale token-based models within a regulated framework.
The DFSA's ITL programme, first launched in 2017, allows firms to test innovative products in a controlled environment. Following a rigorous review process, select firms were invited into the sandbox for live trials, while others qualified for direct authorisation under existing rules due to the maturity of their operations.
Charlotte Robins, Managing Director of Policy & Legal at the DFSA, said the level of global interest reflects a 'growing appetite for responsible innovation' and confidence in the Authority's regulatory approach. 'By working closely with local and global firms, we are helping ensure new ideas are tested against regulatory expectations,'
she said.
Participants will now co-develop bespoke testing plans with the DFSA, with sandbox trials set to begin in the coming weeks. Insights from this phase will inform future regulatory policy and help shape the Authority's evolving digital asset framework.
The initiative forms part of the DFSA's broader strategy to align with global best practice and support Dubai's D33 agenda to become one of the world's top four financial hubs by 2033.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
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