Dubai Royals Bet $9B on Turning Maldives Into Next Crypto Paradise—Sun, Sand, and Blockchain

A single Dubai family office just placed a $9 billion wager that tropical tax havens and decentralized finance are a match made in heaven. The move could turbocharge the Maldives’ bid to become the Caribbean of crypto—complete with palm-fringed regulatory arbitrage.

Why it matters: While traditional finance scrambles to retrofit 20th-century rules, island nations keep carving out crypto niches. The Maldives already offers zero capital gains tax—now add petrodollar-fueled investment and a government hungry for diversification beyond luxury resorts.

The cynical take: Another sunny jurisdiction rolls out the red carpet for digital asset refugees fleeing SEC scrutiny. At least the compliance officers will enjoy better beachside margaritas than in Zug or Singapore.