The Abu Dhabi Global Market Registration Authority (RA) has issued Discussion Paper No. 1 of 2026 seeking feedback on proposed guidance for crypto mining activities conducted in or from ADGM. The paper positions crypto mining as a licensed commercial activity under the RA’s commercial licensing and supervision, rather than a regulated financial service. The draft guidance sets out definitions, policy principles for responsible mining with an emphasis on security and operational integrity, and the RA’s expectations across the licensing lifecycle. It covers pre-licensing information and assessment areas, proposed licence conditions and ongoing obligations including transparency and disclosure, and risk-based supervision tools and enforcement. The approach is described as technology-neutral and intended to apply regardless of the consensus mechanism used, and it also proposes expectations for ADGM-registered headquarters overseeing mining operations in other jurisdictions, including disclosure and due diligence. Comments are due by 20 March 2026. The RA will consider responses before deciding whether to modify the proposals and issue final guidance, and it advises stakeholders not to act on the proposals until the guidance is finalised.

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