Plume Secures ADGM License in Abu Dhabi as RWA Expansion Accelerates

Abu Dhabi just opened another door to the future of finance—and Plume walked right through it.

The blockchain platform specializing in real-world assets (RWAs) landed a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority. This isn't just another regulatory checkbox; it's a direct pipeline into one of the world's most ambitious financial hubs.

Why Abu Dhabi, and Why Now?

While other regions debate, ADGM builds. The license lets Plume operate as a regulated custodian and broker-dealer for tokenized assets—everything from fine art and real estate to carbon credits and private equity. The move signals a clear shift: the RWA narrative is moving from theoretical white papers to operational balance sheets. Traditional finance is finally getting a blockchain-powered upgrade, whether it likes it or not.

The Global RWA Land Grab

Plume's ADGM play is part of a wider scramble. Institutions aren't just dipping toes anymore; they're diving into tokenization to unlock liquidity, streamline settlement, and—let's be honest—chase the yield that's vanished in traditional markets. Securing a foothold in a jurisdiction like Abu Dhabi isn't defensive; it's an offensive move to capture institutional flow from the MENA region and beyond.

A Bridge, Not an Island

This license does more than grant permission—it builds a bridge. It connects Plume's decentralized infrastructure with the regulated, institutional capital pools sitting in the Gulf. Expect more platforms to follow this blueprint: secure the license, build the rails, and watch as trillions in dormant assets start to move on-chain. The race isn't about who has the best tech alone anymore; it's about who can navigate the regulatory maze fastest.

The bottom line? The real world is going on-chain, and the gatekeepers are changing. Plume just got a master key to one of the most important gates—proving that in the new finance, sometimes you need permission to truly be permissionless. Just don't expect the old guard to hand over the keys without a fight; they're still trying to figure out their fax machine.

Plume’s global expansion

Plume first gained regulatory momentum in October when it became the first Layer-2 to register with the SEC as a transfer agent, enabling it to process securities records and LINK directly to U.S. market infrastructure. 

With the ADGM commercial license, Plume is positioning itself as a leading RWA-focused blockchain alongside global institutions such as BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, and QCP within the financial free zone.

The license gives Plume formal operating status in ADGM and enables the company to begin scaling real-world-asset origination and distribution across the Middle East, Africa, and emerging markets.

CEO Chris Yin said the UAE and Middle East “are rapidly becoming global leaders in the tokenization of real-world assets,” noting ADGM’s role as a strategic entry point.

Plume’s recent developments 

The RWA project’s ecosystem development efforts reflect the same momentum. On December 6, Plume launched a set of institutional RWA “Nest Vaults” on Solana, offering on-chain access to treasuries and credit products such as nTBILL, nOPAL, and nBASIS. 

The move brings real-world yield into Solana’s DeFi stack and extends Plume’s multichain strategy, which now spans compliance infrastructure in the U.S. and reported commercial expansion in the Middle East.

With its ADGM license and formal inclusion in the UAE’s regulated fintech ecosystem, the next steps to watch include its planned Abu Dhabi office, upcoming partnership announcements, and how the license supports Plume’s RWA expansion heading into 2026.

Also read: World Liberty Financial Sets January Launch for RWA Suite