Stacks Asia and Abu Dhabi Global Market Unite to Ignite Bitcoin Adoption

Established in 2015, ADGM has quickly evolved into a key financial jurisdiction in the region, often referred to as a fintech bridge between East and West. The regulator has prioritized blockchain innovation through initiatives like the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations Regime, launched in November 2023, the first of its kind globally. This framework allows blockchain protocols to operate legally, transparently, and with clear governance structures under Abu Dhabi law.

The success of ADGM’s DLT regime has already attracted major blockchain players including Solana, TON, Chainlink, IOTA, and Neopin. With the inclusion of Stacks Asia, ADGM is now expanding its reach into the Bitcoin ecosystem, particularly in areas like decentralized finance, smart contracts, and Bitcoin-native tokenization.

The partnership will see Stacks Asia roll out a robust slate of initiatives aimed at educating institutions, regulators, and developers. Beginning in May 2025, the foundation will host a series of both in-person and online events designed to guide stakeholders on integrating Bitcoin into their operations. These events will focus on unlocking Bitcoin’s potential for capital activation, beyond its traditional use as a reserve asset.

"SOur presence in ADGM allows us to bridge the gap between Asia-Pacific and the UAE, with Hong Kong serving as a strategic hub," said Kyle Ellicott, Executive Director at the Stacks Asia DLT Foundation. “We chose to establish our presence in ADGM because of its unparalleled commitment to fostering innovation in the blockchain space. Their forward-thinking approach to policy-making aligns perfectly with the Stacks ecosystem’s history of creating pathways for Bitcoin builders.”

A central goal of Stacks Asia’s expansion is to promote the Bitcoin Capital Activation Framework, a new policy blueprint being designed to help regulators understand and support productive Bitcoin use cases. This framework will propose guidelines for enabling lending, yield generation, and application deployment on Bitcoin’s secure base layer, using Stacks’ Layer-2 infrastructure.

To further encourage regulatory cooperation across Asia and the Middle East, Stacks Asia is also preparing to launch the Bitcoin Policy Bridge, a new platform that will facilitate discussions between regulators, policymakers, and legal experts. The Bridge, expected to go live in May, will serve as a conduit for sharing best practices, aligning regulatory interpretations, and fostering joint initiatives that support blockchain adoption.

This initiative will be especially significant for jurisdictions seeking to build legal clarity around Bitcoin-based smart contracts, decentralized applications, and tokenized assets, all of which are key to broader financial system integration.

The collaboration between Stacks Asia and ADGM reflects a larger trend: growing institutional interest in Bitcoin beyond just investment. As traditional financial players seek programmable infrastructure on top of Bitcoin, Layer-2 networks like Stacks, which offer smart contracts, NFTs, and decentralized identity solutions anchored to Bitcoin are gaining traction.

Abu Dhabi’s inclusion of a Bitcoin-focused L2 foundation sends a strong message to regional and global markets: the UAE is not only embracing blockchain but also preparing to play a leadership role in shaping the future of the Bitcoin economy.

As the Bitcoin ecosystem evolves from a speculative market to a programmable financial platform, the partnership between Stacks Asia and ADGM represents a key step toward institutionalizing its next phase. Through regulatory collaboration, educational outreach, and technical innovation, the two entities aim to unlock the full potential of Bitcoin for developers, enterprises, and nations alike.