Animoca Brands Gains Approval to Manage Funds in Abu Dhabi

Animoca Brands has received final approval from Abu Dhabi regulators to manage investment funds. The license was granted to its subsidiary, Animoca Asset Management, and allows the firm to raise capital from professional investors.

The authorization process began in November 2025 and took effect on October 13. The company already held a similar license in Dubai, obtained in February, to offer brokerage and virtual asset management services.

This shift marks a transition for the company, which started as a mobile game developer and pivoted to blockchain in 2018. Its portfolio includes stakes in major names such as OpenSea and Dapper Labs.

Animoca Brands' current strategy prioritizes its transformation into a regulated financial institution. The business focus now encompasses the tokenization of real-world assets and treasury management involving digital assets.

This move reflects a trend of crypto-native firms shifting toward traditional financial services. The company aims to operate across multiple jurisdictions under strict institutional rules.