UAE Ranks Among the Top 5 Global Hubs for Crypto Entrepreneurs in 2025

Global crypto wealth is expanding at a rapid pace, creating new centers of influence beyond traditional financial hubs. According to the Crypto Wealth Report 2025, there are now more than 241,700 crypto millionaires worldwide, alongside 450 centi-millionaires and 36 billionaires. The market as a whole is valued at $3.3 trillion, with Bitcoin alone accounting for almost two-thirds of that figure. Growth has been striking, with the number of crypto millionaires climbing 40% in the past year and Bitcoin millionaires rising by 70%.

The report describes how crypto wealth is increasingly mobile, with entrepreneurs choosing jurisdictions not only for tax benefits but also for infrastructure and regulatory environments that enable digital innovation. According to Henley’s new Crypto Adoption Index, the UAE ranks among the top five global destinations for crypto adoption, alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and the United States. Separately, Henley projects that the UAE will attract a net inflow of nearly 9,800 high-net-worth individuals in 2025, reinforcing its status as a global wealth magnet.

One of the UAE’s most significant advantages is its tax regime. The country imposes zero taxation on crypto trading, mining, staking, and related activities across all emirates. This approach has made it one of the few jurisdictions where digital wealth can be deployed without facing major fiscal barriers. Alongside the tax policy, the UAE has also pioneered specialized regulation. In 2022, Dubai established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), an independent body dedicated solely to overseeing virtual assets. This was followed by the rapid growth of the DMCC Crypto Centre, which now hosts over 650 blockchain firms and continues to expand as a base for entrepreneurs from across the world.

Residency pathways have reinforced this attraction. Through its Golden Visa program, the UAE offers renewable 10-year residency permits for qualified investors. For crypto entrepreneurs seeking long-term certainty, this program reduces the risk of sudden disruptions and allows them to anchor their personal and business lives in the country. This combination of tax neutrality, regulation, and secure residency creates an ecosystem that is rare in the global landscape.

By comparison, Europe offers selective advantages. Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program exempts most personal crypto gains from capital gains tax, while Switzerland and Malta maintain progressive regulatory and investment regimes. Caribbean jurisdictions such as St. Kitts & Nevis now accept cryptocurrency as a partial source of wealth for applicants in their citizenship-by-investment programs, while countries like Panama and Thailand also offer residence pathways with features designed to appeal to mobile entrepreneurs. Henley’s report emphasizes that while multiple jurisdictions are adapting, the UAE stands out for combining zero taxes, pioneering regulation, and long-term residence options.

The broader implication is that the UAE is competing directly with long-established centers such as Switzerland, London, and New York. Unlike these older hubs, however, the Emirates are not burdened by legacy systems that complicate regulation of digital assets. Instead, the government has built a framework designed specifically for crypto, combining flexibility with clear oversight. That strategy appears to be paying dividends, as the country continues to attract both entrepreneurs and institutional players.

The report emphasizes that the landscape for crypto wealth is volatile, with regulations capable of shifting overnight and technologies quickly becoming obsolete. It notes that entrepreneurs often spread their activities across several jurisdictions to avoid concentration risks. For the UAE and other leading hubs, maintaining clear regulatory pathways and adaptable frameworks will be essential if they are to preserve their current advantages in attracting digital wealth over the next decade.

Beyond its tax and residency advantages, the UAE’s model is also notable for its emphasis on long-term stability. Entrepreneurs often cite predictable regulation and government support for innovation as reasons for relocating, alongside the country’s global connectivity and lifestyle infrastructure. These factors mean that the UAE is not only a hub for financial capital but also a base where digital-asset businesses can scale internationally with confidence.

The rise of the UAE as a crypto migration hub underscores a broader shift: wealth today is increasingly borderless, and jurisdictions are competing to capture it by offering clarity, stability, and opportunity. The Emirates have taken an early lead in this race by combining regulatory foresight with investor-friendly policies and residency schemes that match the horizons of long-term entrepreneurs.