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Chainalysis: UAE Crypto Activity Rises 32% to $104.8 Billion
The United Arab Emirates recorded $104.8 billion in crypto asset activity from July 2025 to June 2026, up 32% year over year and second in the Middle East and North Africa behind Turkey's $144.5 billion, according to a Chainalysis report.
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What happened
The United Arab Emirates recorded $104.8 billion in crypto asset activity from July 2025 to June 2026, up 32% year over year and second in the Middle East and North Africa behind Turkey's $144.5 billion, according to a Chainalysis report.
Confirmed
Global impact / market context
More money moving through crypto service providers means more fees and trading revenue for exchanges and institutional platforms, which can fund hiring, technology and expansion. The 75% jump in institutional inflows suggests professional firms, not just everyday users, are driving the growth.
Analyst inference
Regional activity fell 1.4% to $443.3 billion, and excluding the UAE it fell 8.6%, so the UAE is growing while most neighbors shrink. That makes it a rare bright spot for crypto businesses deciding where to base staff and capital.
Analyst inference
What to watch
- Centralized exchange inflows rose 22% to $55 billion, while inflows to institutional platforms such as custodians and market makers rose 75% to $11.7 billion, showing where activity concentrates. Confirmed
- Watch whether UAE and regional regulators adjust licensing rules for custodians and market makers, since clearer rules could pull more institutional money into the region. Proposed
- If the UAE keeps growing while the wider region shrinks, exchanges may shift marketing budgets and staff there, which could pressure revenue and headcount in weaker markets. Analyst inference