Zodia Markets, the digital assets platform backed by Standard Chartered, has received regulatory approval to operate a brokerage in Abu Dhabi — a market where it has been eyeing expansion since last year.

Zodia Markets is now licensed to operate as a virtual asset brokerage in the United Arab Emirates capital. It comes after the firm last year secured approval in principle from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market — the financial centre of the UAE’s capital.