BNY, world's largest custody bank, expands crypto services in Abu Dhabi

BNY, the world's largest custodian overseeing $59 trillion of assets, is expanding its digital asset custody business to the United Arab Emirates through local partners.

According to a Thursday press release, the global financial services giant is working with Finstreet and ADI Foundation to build regulated digital asset infrastructure anchored in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the financial free zone in Abu Dhabi that has become a hub for crypto firms and blockchain projects entering the Middle East region.

The initiative will initially focus on custody services for cryptocurrencies including bitcoin BTC$81,066.72 and ether (ETH), with plans to later expand into stablecoins and tokenized assets, the press release said.

"The UAE is entering a new phase of financial development, characterized by deeper markets, greater digital sophistication and stronger global connectivity," Hani Kablawi, executive vice chair at BNY, said in a statement. "With our world-class capabilities and scale across capital markets, BNY is uniquely positioned to connect traditional and digital financial ecosystems in collaboration with our clients."

BNY’s move reflects a broader push by major financial institutions to bring blockchain technology into mainstream markets beyond crypto trading. Tokenization — the process of representing assets such as bonds, funds and equities on blockchain networks — is gaining traction as firms look for faster settlement, more efficient collateral management and lower operational costs.

The bank’s entry into the UAE also highlights how quickly the Gulf region is emerging as a center for digital asset finance. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have attracted crypto exchanges, stablecoin issuers and tokenization startups with regulatory frameworks designed to support digital assets while maintaining institutional oversight.

BNY's involvement carries added weight because of the bank's scale and role in traditional finance. The firm oversees about $59 trillion in assets under custody and administration, making it the world’s largest custodian bank, and was the first major U.S. global systemically important bank to launch digital asset custody services.

The UAE has also pushed deeper into state-backed digital finance initiatives. IHC and other local institutions recently unveiled plans last month for a regulated dirham-backed stablecoin aimed at government and institutional use.

Read more: BNY CEO says the future of crypto runs through big banks