3iQ wins in-principle approval for Category 4 license in Abu Dhabi

3iQ Corp. is one step closer to running a regulated business in Abu Dhabi. On October 12, 2026, the crypto investment manager announced that its UAE-based subsidiary, 3iQ Middle East Ltd, received in-principle approval for a Category 4 license.

The green light comes from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Full operational permissions will depend on 3iQ Middle East meeting additional regulatory conditions.

What a Category 4 license actually covers

A Category 4 license allows 3iQ Middle East to act in an advisory role. It also permits the firm to provide non-discretionary investment arrangements, meaning the advisor can recommend and arrange deals, but the client retains the final say on what gets bought or sold.

3iQ frames the approval as part of a broader strategy to establish regulated operations in key digital asset markets around the world, viewing its Abu Dhabi entry as a vital piece of serving accredited investors globally.

The Further partnership and a $100 million head start

The license news did not arrive in isolation. It follows a strategic partnership between 3iQ and Further, a local digital asset investment manager.

The goal of that tie-up is to improve institutional access to digital assets through 3iQ’s Managed Account Platform, known as QMAP. QMAP has already gathered $100 million in seed capital linked to sovereign investment.

Why Abu Dhabi, and why it matters

3iQ is not a newcomer to regulated crypto products. The company launched the first Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on a major stock exchange.

Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM’s Chief Market Development Officer, said the in-principle approval reflects rising interest from international firms in the region’s digital asset offerings.

What this means

An advisory and arranging license in Abu Dhabi, combined with the QMAP platform and the Further partnership, gives the firm a local base to court institutional clients in the region. The license is likely to strengthen investor confidence in Abu Dhabi’s digital asset market.

In-principle approval is a milestone, not a finish line. Until 3iQ Middle East satisfies the remaining regulatory conditions, it cannot operate with full permissions, and timelines for that process were not specified.

3iQ’s entry may encourage additional firms to pursue similar moves into the UAE’s digital asset space.