ADI Foundation and SettleMint have launched a partnership to build a regulated digital securities infrastructure on ADI Chain, aiming to bring issuance, trading, settlement, and custody of tokenized assets into a single integrated system under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) framework.
The partnership is an attempt to solve a structural problem of fragmented infrastructure in capital markets tokenization. Today, most tokenization projects handle issuance, trading, and settlement through separate systems that are often difficult to coordinate across jurisdictions and compliance regimes. This partnership attempts to consolidate those layers into one regulated environment built directly on blockchain infrastructure.
Regulated issuance, trading, settlement, and custody – on a single public blockchain, under one framework.@ADI_Foundation has partnered with @SettleMintCom to develop digital securities infrastructure under @ADGlobalMarket‘s regulatory framework.
What the partnership brings… pic.twitter.com/s5RoN1uEbc
— ADI Chain (@ADIChain_) May 13, 2026
Fixing the broken structure in capital markets infrastructure
The core gap this partnership targets is coordination. Institutions trying to tokenize securities typically need multiple providers for issuance, compliance, settlement, and custody. This creates friction, slows adoption, and increases regulatory complexity.
ADI Chain is positioned as the settlement backbone, while SettleMint’s platform manages the full lifecycle of digital assets, including token creation, post-trade servicing, and ongoing management. The goal is not just token issuance, but a complete operational system that mirrors traditional capital market functions in a programmable environment.
Compliance-first design and why ERC-3643 matters
ADI Chain is described as a compliance-ready Layer 2 blockchain built to operate within ADGM’s regulatory framework. Every transaction is recorded on-chain, but within a system that aligns with institutional requirements.
SettleMint’s use of ERC-3643 is important because it is a token standard built specifically for regulated securities. Unlike open transfer tokens, it includes identity and compliance controls at the token level. This indicates a deliberate focus on institutional adoption rather than open retail DeFi markets, where regulatory constraints are lighter.
UAE positioning in the global tokenization competition
This partnership also reflects a broader geopolitical and financial strategy. The UAE is positioning itself as a regulated hub for digital asset markets at a time when tokenization is gaining traction globally.
Industry estimates cited in the announcement suggest tokenized assets could grow from roughly $0.6 trillion in 2025 to $18.9 trillion by 2033, while existing real-world asset markets on-chain already measure in the tens of billions. The implication is that early infrastructure control may matter as much as asset growth itself.
Notably, ADI Foundation partnered with BNY Mellon and Finstreet to build a regulated system for storing digital assets in Abu Dhabi.
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