Major Compliance Development: Abu Dhabi Adds Tether USDT to the Multi-Chain Regulated Token List

The financial regulator of Abu Dhabi’s global market approved Tether’s application to officially list USDT issued on nine mainstream blockchains, including Aptos, Celo, and Cosmos, as an “recognized fiat currency reference token.”

This approval is a significant expansion of ADGM’s previously endorsed Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche-based USDT.

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01 Regulatory milestones

The Financial Services Industry Regulatory Authority for Abu Dhabi Global Markets has issued an announcement granting new regulatory status to Tether’s stablecoin USDT.

This decision marks a pivotal step forward in USDT’s compliance journey in mainstream financial jurisdictions. According to the announcement, USDT, which has received the status of “recognized fiat currency reference token” this time, covers its release version on nine mainstream blockchains.

The nine chains include Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, NEAR, Polkadot, Tezos, TON, and TRON. With this approval, financial institutions licensed in ADGM are now able to conduct regulated business activities involving USDT on these blockchains.

02 From three chains to almost all ecosystems

This regulatory approval was not an overnight occurrence but a result of ADGM’s ongoing engagement and review with Tether.

ADGM’s FSRA has previously recognized USDT based on three blockchains: Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche. The latest decision dramatically expands the scope of recognition to cover almost all major blockchain networks supported by Tether.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, commented: "The UAE continues to set the standard for digital asset regulation worldwide, and Tether is proud to contribute to this leadership. ”

Ardoino emphasized that this milestone underscores Tether’s commitment to advancing financial inclusion and innovation on a global scale.

03 Strategic significance and market impact

The UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, is positioning itself as a global hub for digital assets and compliant finance. The inclusion of USDT in its regulated digital asset framework is a key component of this strategy.

This regulatory development comes in the same week as Circle, another major stablecoin issuer, also announced that it has received a financial services license with ADGM to operate as a money transfer operator.

Meanwhile, Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has also announced full regulatory approval from ADGM. Binance CEO Richard Teng said this makes Binance the first global exchange to receive full regulatory approval from the FSRA.

This series of developments clearly shows that the UAE is actively building a comprehensive and regulated digital asset ecosystem that attracts major industry players around the world.

04 USDT Market Status and Price Performance

While gaining significant regulatory recognition, USDT’s dominance in the market remains solid. According to market data as of December 7, 2025, the total global stablecoin market capitalization is approximately $312 billion.

Among them, USDT’s market capitalization is as high as $185.7 billion, accounting for 59.55% of the entire stablecoin market, ranking first. Its closest competitor, USDC, has a market capitalization of $78.19 billion, accounting for 25.07%.

In terms of price stability, USDT continues to maintain its core characteristics of being pegged to the US dollar. Taking data on the Gate trading platform as a reference, as of December 8, the price of USDT against the US dollar is around 1.0000, with minimal price fluctuations in the past 24 hours.

The circulating supply of USDT is huge, reaching approximately 185.65 billion as of December 8.

an overview of Tether USDT key market data

05 Implications for investors and the industry

ADGM’s widespread endorsement of USDT is a strong signal that mainstream financial regulators are understanding and embracing crypto assets, particularly those with systemically important stablecoins, in a more nuanced and pragmatic manner.

For investors and institutions, regulatory clarity in respected jurisdictions like ADGM significantly reduces operational and compliance risks associated with using USDT as a medium of exchange and settlement asset.

This development also indicates that the integration of the crypto industry with the traditional financial system is accelerating. Regulatory clarity will clear the way for more traditional financial institutions to participate in digital asset services, potentially leading to wider adoption, deeper liquidity, and a more mature market structure.

Staying abreast of these regulatory developments is crucial for a global trading platform like Gate, ensuring that it can provide users with trading products and services that meet both innovation and compliance requirements.

Future Outlook

The total market capitalization of the global cryptocurrency market rose slightly to $3.15 trillion in the first week of December, while the market’s “panic index” remained at 19, indicating that investor sentiment remains in a state of “extreme panic.”

At the same time, the stablecoin space is quietly undergoing structural changes. A week before ADGM’s expanded regulatory recognition of USDT, Tether issued an additional 1 billion USDT.

Stablecoins are no longer just intermediaries for transactions, they are becoming a key bridge connecting decentralized finance with the regulated traditional world.