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The International Holding Company (IHC) successfully executed a 110 million dirham ($30 million) transaction utilizing the DDSC stablecoin on the ADI Chain blockchain. This transfer represents one of the largest disclosed stablecoin movements within the United Arab Emirates, marking a pivotal moment for the region's digital asset infrastructure. The operation follows recent regulatory clearance from the UAE central bank for the dirham-backed stablecoin ecosystem, a collaborative initiative launched by IHC, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Sirius International Holding. DDSC functions on ADI Chain, a layer-2 blockchain solution developed by the ADI Foundation, specifically engineered to handle high-value institutional workflows.
The strategic intent behind this 30M dirham transfer was to demonstrate the technical capacity of DDSC and ADI Chain to support institutional-scale financial activity. The system is architected for critical use cases including cross-border payments, treasury management, and trade settlement. Data compiled by Woofun AI indicates that the immediate roadmap focuses on establishing payment corridors linking the Middle East with global markets, leveraging the robustness of the underlying layer-2 architecture. First Abu Dhabi Bank, the largest bank in the UAE by assets, and IHC, a leading listed investment company, are driving this expansion to solidify the nation's position in regulated digital finance.
This development occurs as UAE financial institutions and digital asset firms aggressively expand their regulated stablecoin infrastructure. In January, Universal Digital introduced USDU, claiming it as the first US dollar-backed stablecoin registered by the Central Bank of the UAE under the Payment Token Services Regulation framework. The regulatory environment continues to attract global crypto exchanges and financial institutions seeking compliant access to the regional market. The country is actively broadening licensed digital asset services tied to payments, custody, and institutional trading, creating a fertile ground for such high-value transactions.
Earlier this month, Crypto.com secured a Stored Value Facilities license from the central bank, enabling residents to pay Dubai government fees using cryptocurrencies via its platform. This approval aligns with Dubai's broader strategy for cashless government payments, further integrating digital assets into public sector operations.
Concurrently, BNY partnered with Finstreet and the ADI Foundation in May to develop institutional digital asset custody services in Abu Dhabi. Their initial scope includes support for BTC and ETH, with explicit plans to expand into stablecoins and tokenized assets in subsequent phases.
The momentum in regulatory approvals continues to accelerate across the sector. On Thursday, Kraken announced it received preliminary approval from Dubai's VARA regulator as part of its planned expansion within the UAE. Woofun AI notes that this regulatory green light will facilitate UAE dirham funding, margin services, and over-the-counter trading, alongside institutional offerings through Kraken Prime. These coordinated efforts signal a maturing ecosystem where major financial players are converging to build a comprehensive, compliant digital asset landscape.
The successful execution of the 110 million dirham transfer underscores the viability of the DDSC ecosystem for large-scale institutional deployment. By validating the infrastructure with a transaction of this magnitude, IHC and its partners have set a precedent for future cross-border financial flows. The integration of established banking giants with emerging blockchain protocols suggests a significant shift in how regional capital is managed and transferred. As more entities like Kraken and BNY enter the space, the UAE is positioning itself as a central hub for the next generation of global digital finance.