Solana’s Institutional Momentum: Galaxy Digital’s Abu Dhabi Expansion Signals Broader Crypto Adoption

On December 12, 2025, Galaxy Digital, a leading digital asset and blockchain-focused financial services firm, announced a significant strategic expansion into Abu Dhabi's financial free zone, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This move underscores the growing institutional demand for cryptocurrency exposure, particularly in the Middle East, and highlights the maturing infrastructure supporting digital asset adoption. The decision follows Galaxy Digital's exceptionally strong third-quarter performance, which reported a net income of $505 million, demonstrating robust financial health and operational success. A key driver of this expansion and a focal point of institutional interest is the Solana blockchain. Galaxy Digital recently participated in a landmark $1.65 billion treasury fund specifically focused on Solana, alongside other major industry players. This substantial capital allocation indicates deep institutional confidence in Solana's technology, ecosystem, and long-term value proposition. The fund is poised to support development, liquidity, and enterprise adoption on the Solana network. Abu Dhabi's progressive and clear regulatory framework within the ADGM has become a powerful magnet for global crypto firms seeking a stable and supportive operational environment. By establishing a physical presence there, Galaxy Digital positions itself at the heart of a rapidly growing regional hub for digital asset innovation and finance. This expansion is not merely a geographical move but a strategic bet on the future of institutional crypto investment flows into and from the Middle East. The convergence of Galaxy's strong financials, its major commitment to Solana via the treasury fund, and its entry into a regulatorily advanced market like Abu Dhabi paints a compelling picture of the current crypto landscape. It signals a phase where established financial institutions are not just dipping their toes but are making decisive, capital-intensive moves to build and scale operations in supportive jurisdictions. For Solana, this represents powerful validation. Being the centerpiece of a $1.65 billion fund involving industry heavyweights elevates its status from a high-performance blockchain to a core institutional asset class. The liquidity and development capital from such a fund can accelerate ecosystem growth, enhance network security, and foster new financial products. In summary, Galaxy Digital's expansion is a multi-faceted bullish signal. It reflects strong institutional financial health, a strategic bet on a key blockchain protocol in Solana, and a vote of confidence in the regulatory evolution of major financial centers. This development points towards continued maturation of the crypto industry, with capital and talent increasingly flowing towards regions and technologies that offer clarity, innovation, and scale.

Galaxy Expands to Abu Dhabi Amid Strong Crypto Institutional Demand

Galaxy Digital is establishing a new entity in Abu Dhabi's financial free zone, signaling its commitment to the Middle East's burgeoning digital asset market. The MOVE follows a robust Q3 showing $505 million net income and participation in a $1.65 billion Solana-focused treasury fund with industry heavyweights.

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) continues to attract crypto firms with its progressive regulatory framework. CEO Mike Novogratz framed the expansion as strategic positioning in a region combining capital liquidity with sophisticated institutional interest in digital assets.

The firm's Middle East lead Bouchra Darwazah emphasized the UAE's dual role as both financial hub and innovation laboratory, where traditional finance converges with blockchain infrastructure development.

Bhutan Launches Sovereign Gold Token TER on Solana Blockchain

Bhutan advances its blockchain ambitions with TER, a gold-backed digital token issued through Gelephu Mindfulness City. The Solana-based asset leverages the Kingdom’s sovereign framework to merge traditional value storage with decentralized finance infrastructure.

DK Bank, Bhutan’s first licensed digital bank, will custody TER and facilitate direct purchases. This bridges conventional Gold acquisition with on-chain transparency—offering global investors a tokenized alternative combining gold’s stability with crypto’s liquidity.

The initiative positions Bhutan as a pioneer in state-backed digital assets. TER also serves as a cornerstone for Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special economic zone designed to attract foreign capital and accelerate the nation’s digital economy transition.

State Street Tokenizes SWEEP Fund on Solana, Marking Institutional Blockchain Milestone

State Street, one of the world's largest custodians with $50 trillion in assets, has partnered with Galaxy to launch the SWEEP Fund on Solana—the first instance of a Global Systemically Important Bank (GSIB) issuing assets on a public blockchain. The tokenized private liquidity fund, seeded with $200 million from Ondo Finance, will use PYUSD for subscriptions and redemptions, enabling real-time capital movement—a feature traditionally constrained in private markets.

The fund targets qualified institutional investors, with plans to expand to stellar post-launch. Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz will discuss details at the Solana Conference in Abu Dhabi, underscoring the growing convergence of traditional finance and blockchain infrastructure.

Coinbase Debuts On-Chain Solana Trading Bypassing Traditional Listings

Coinbase unveiled instant on-chain trading for solana tokens at Breakpoint 2025, eliminating conventional listing requirements. The Abu Dhabi announcement marks a strategic pivot toward permissionless asset accessibility, with engineering lead Sabs Sachdeva demonstrating a blockchain-native interface handling order execution and slippage management directly on Solana.

"We're bridging the gap between centralized convenience and decentralized infrastructure," said Andrew Allen, Coinbase's Solana product lead. The move targets millions of new assets while maintaining regulatory clarity—trades execute on-chain, but the UI mirrors familiar centralized platforms. Early adopters include institutional traders and token issuers seeking global distribution without gatekeepers.