Capital.com plans to introduce spot cryptocurrency trading for clients in the United Arab Emirates after its affiliate, Capital Vault, obtained a virtual-asset license from the country’s Capital Market Authority (CMA).
The license permits Capital Vault to act as an agent or matching principal in virtual-asset transactions and provide custody services on behalf of clients. Once operational, UAE-based users will be able to purchase and hold actual cryptocurrencies through the Capital.com application, with Capital Vault handling execution, custody, and settlement. This contrasts with Capital.com’s existing contracts-for-difference (CFD) offerings, which provide price exposure without direct ownership of the underlying assets.
Capital Vault operates as a distinct regulated entity, maintaining separate governance, custody, and risk management structures from Capital.com’s other business lines. The affiliate has established an office in Abu Dhabi and is assembling a local team focused on virtual-asset services. The CMA’s approval follows the introduction of a broader virtual-asset regulatory framework in April, which expanded regulated activities from three to eight and introduced standards for business conduct, trading systems, anti-money laundering measures, and prudential oversight.
