ADGM's digital-asset stack now signals regulated operating depth in the UAE

Why ADGM's December 2025 ecosystem update should be read as regulated operating depth across payments, custody, and intermediation, not as proof of scaled adoption.

ADGM's December 2025 update turns the UAE story into a regulated operating-market signal, not just an FRT rulemaking story.

The operative shift is scope: October 2025 rules extend accepted FRTs into payment, custody, settlement, and intermediation from 1 January 2026.

What the evidence still does not prove is transaction scale, named bank distribution depth, or an AED-denominated stablecoin launch.

ADGM is no longer only describing how an FRT issuer should be governed. By December 2025 it is describing a supervised stack for accepted-token use across payments, custody, settlement, and intermediation.