3iQ Corp. announced on October 12, 2026, that its UAE-based subsidiary, 3iQ Middle East Ltd, received in-principle approval for a Category 4 license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Full operational permissions remain contingent on meeting additional regulatory conditions.
A Category 4 license permits 3iQ Middle East to provide advisory services and non-discretionary investment arrangements, allowing the firm to recommend and arrange deals while clients retain final decision-making authority on transactions.
The approval follows a strategic partnership between 3iQ and Further, a local digital asset investment manager, aimed at expanding institutional access to digital assets through 3iQ's Managed Account Platform, known as QMAP. The platform has secured $100 million in seed capital linked to sovereign investment.
3iQ has a track record in regulated crypto products, having launched the first Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on a major stock exchange. Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM's Chief Market Development Officer, characterized the in-principle approval as evidence of growing international interest in the region's digital asset offerings.
The license establishes a local foundation for 3iQ to serve institutional clients in Abu Dhabi, potentially strengthening investor confidence in the emirate's digital asset market. However, in-principle approval represents an interim milestone; the company must satisfy remaining regulatory requirements before commencing full operations, with no specified timeline disclosed.
