Capital.com Enters Spot Crypto Market in UAE with Virtual-Asset License

Capital.com is expanding its services in the UAE after its affiliate, Capital Vault, secured a virtual-asset license from the country's Capital Market Authority (CMA). The approval allows Capital Vault to deal in virtual assets as an agent or matching principal and provide custody on behalf of clients. This marks Capital.com's entry into the spot digital-asset market.

The CFD broker plans to offer spot cryptocurrency services, enabling UAE clients to buy and hold actual crypto through the Capital.com app. The affiliate will provide execution, custody, and settlement for these transactions. The move is a shift from Capital.com's core business of offering price exposure to assets without transferring ownership.

The approval follows the CMA's introduction of a virtual-asset regulatory framework in April, which expanded the number of regulated activities from three to eight. This framework established requirements covering business conduct, alternative trading systems, anti-money laundering controls, and prudential standards.