Dubai’s financial regulators have officially licensed the first firm in the Emirate to provide crypto investment advice, a move that creates a compliant gateway for institutional money to enter the digital asset market.
The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) granted the full operational license on June 23 to GAP 3 Partners FZCO (G3), authorizing it to guide institutional clients and family offices across Dubai.
A Team of Industry Veterans at the Helm
G3 was founded by a team of industry veterans—Robin Janaway of Outlier Ventures, Chris Donovan from the NEAR Foundation, and seasoned blockchain advisor Adib Tohme. The firm operates as an institutional-grade advisory service, focusing on high-level virtual asset strategy, structuring, licensing, treasury management, and token-market execution.
The VARA license positions G3 to support corporations and investment institutions seeking compliant access to digital assets, from tokenized real-world assets to core blockchain infrastructure.
Clearing VARA’s High Regulatory Bar
Dubai’s VARA issues full Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licenses only after firms meet all regulatory conditions. G3’s approval follows this full compliance process, distinguishing it from applicants still holding In-Principle Approval (IPA), which does not permit operational activity.
G3’s license enables it to offer regulated investment advisory services under Dubai’s evolving virtual asset rules. The public VARA register confirms G3’s operational status, highlighting transparency and client protection.
In a joint statement, the G3 founders said,
“Dubai’s regulatory leadership together with accelerating institutional interest in digital assets create a unique environment for growth. We are building G3 to be the region’s premier Virtual Asset Investment Advisor.”
Bridging the Gap for Big Money
G3 aims to help institutional investors adapt to blockchain-based markets. Its services cover end-to-end virtual asset advisory under one mandate. The team brings over a decade of digital asset experience to assist clients with regulatory clarity, infrastructure planning, and investment strategy.
The company positions itself as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized systems. As real-world asset tokenisation grows, G3 seeks to serve as a regulated entry point for institutions moving into Web3.
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