Dubai’s thriving crypto scene prompts Chainalysis to establish regional headquarters

Chainalysis, the blockchain data and analytics company, has relocated its regional headquarters to Dubai after collaborating closely with the local government. The company announced the opening of its headquarters for Southern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa on May 8. As part of its engagement with local government stakeholders, Chainalysis has been providing advice on regulatory development in the crypto industry to drive innovation. It has partnered with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications in the United Arab Emirates to establish an excellence center for government employees to enhance their knowledge of blockchain technology. Additionally, Chainalysis has formed a Centre of Excellence to help government employees improve their skills in blockchain technologies. On May 6, Chainalysis signed a memorandum of understanding with Emirates NBD to support the bank’s Digital Asset Lab program. Michael Gronager, CEO of Chainalysis, praised the UAE government for leading the crypto revolution with its crypto-related policies. The establishment of the regional headquarters in Dubai will enable Chainalysis to support emerging markets like India, Africa, and Central Asia. Nicola Buonanno, Vice President of Southern EMEA at Chainalysis, highlighted the UAE market’s potential, with institutional-sized transfers now dominating the country’s crypto activity. Buonanno emphasized the importance of investigating the local industry for better compliance, market intelligence, and data solutions. Chainalysis is among the many crypto and Web3-related companies that have chosen Dubai as their base in the past year. Several firms in the industry have been applying for licenses and establishing a presence in the Middle Eastern technopolis. Binance recently received its license to operate as a cryptocurrency exchange in Dubai, while QCP Capital obtained in-principle approval to offer regulated digital asset activities in Abu Dhabi.