TRON-based USDT Secures Approval from Abu Dhabi Regulator

Key Highlights

• The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market has officially recognized USDT issued on the TRON blockchain as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token, allowing licensed financial firms in the hub to use it for payments, trading, and custody
• The approval shows the Abu Dhabi Global Market’s importance as a leading crypto-friendly jurisdiction, with a regulatory system that allows yield-bearing stablecoins and has attracted major players like Tether, Circle, Binance, and Kraken
• This approach and regulatory clarity will place the UAE as a global digital finance hub

On December 22, the TRON DAO announced that USDT issued on the TRON blockchain is now officially recognized by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The authority has classified it as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token (AFRT). 

TRON-based USDT Achieves Regulatory Approval

This title is a formal regulatory approval. It allows companies licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, known as Authorised Persons, to use this version of USDT in their everyday regulated business. This includes activities like processing payments, settling trades, holding assets in custody for clients, and offering trading services directly. 

The USDT stablecoin on the TRON network is known for its low transaction costs and high speed. It has become one of the most widely used versions of USDT in the world. The TRON network itself has hosted the largest circulating supply of USDT, which has $186.74 billion in market capitalization. 

On December 8, Tether’s stablecoin first gained the same Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token status across multiple other blockchains. Those networks included Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and several others. 

“This milestone reflects TRON’s unwavering dedication to building compliant, secure blockchain infrastructure that meets the highest regulatory standards,” John Hurston, General Counsel, U.S. for TRON DAO, stated in the press release. 

“The FSRA’s acceptance of USDT on TRON acknowledges not only the technical efficiency and scalability of our network, but also our comprehensive approach to decentralized governance and financial crime prevention. This has been demonstrated in part by the success of the T3 Financial Crime Unit, which works closely with global law enforcement to combat use of USDT on TRON for illicit purposes. We are honored to support the UAE’s vision of creating responsible digital asset innovation,” he said.

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Prepares to Become a Crypto Hub

The Abu Dhabi Global Market is an international financial center established in 2015. It operates under its own legal framework based on English common law. Over recent years, it has established itself as a forward-thinking regulator for digital assets in the Middle East, which aims to attract global business. 

In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Global Market introduced a full regulatory framework specifically for stablecoins. Under these rules, overseen by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, stablecoins must hold full reserves of traditional currency, operate with transparency, and maintain strong anti-money laundering controls. 

A feature of this framework is that it allows yield-bearing stablecoins. It means that issuers can share income from their reserves with token holders. 

By November 2025, the list of Accepted Fiat-Referenced Tokens already included major stablecoins like Circle’s USDC and tokens issued by Paxos. Tether’s USDT was added to this list in early December across many blockchains, with the TRON-specific following weeks later. 

The Abu Dhabi Global Market has issued more than 15 licenses to crypto companies in recent years, attracting major exchanges like Binance and Kraken, which received full authorization in 2025.

The Abu Dhabi Global Market actively courts the stablecoin sector with clear and competitive regulations. By approving USDT across many different blockchains, not just one, the authority allows easy movement of value between networks.

This boosts liquidity and makes the hub more useful for complex trading and decentralized finance applications.

This regulatory clarity is a direct appeal to issuers. Tether’s collaboration with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority involved demonstrating its operational reserve management. 

Rival stablecoin issuer Circle has also secured a full Financial Services Permission license to operate as a Money Services Provider in 2025, with its USDC stablecoin receiving similar recognition.

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