Binance Secures License in Dubai to Offer More Crypto Services

Crypto exchange Binance has secured a license from Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority to offer a range of crypto-related services in the city, according to a Tuesday announcement.

• With the new Minimal Viable Product license, the world's largest crypto exchange by volume can open a domestic bank account to hold clients' funds locally, operate a crypto exchange and offer payments and custody services, according to the press release.
• Binance received in-principle approval for the MVP license from the Dubai regulator back in March, the press release said.
• In March, the exchange was also granted a Virtual Asset License in Dubai that allowed it to "extend limited exchange products and services" to qualified investors.
• The exchange has been aggressively pursuing regulatory approval in the Middle East, with a special focus in the Unites Arab Emirates. In April Binance got provisional approval to operate as a broker-dealer in virtual assets in UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi.
• Binance has been trying to attain global regulatory approval after facing a series of set-backs. The exchange faced scrutiny from regulators in the U.K. and Japan last year. This year, the exchange was blocked in Uzbekistan and Israel.
• Binance also received approval to operate in Kazakhstan, France and Spain this year.
• Dubai's VARA did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by CoinDesk.

Read more: Binance Gets In-Principle Approval to Operate as Crypto Broker-Dealer in Abu Dhabi