According to CoinMeta, Kraken has obtained a full license issued by the UAE Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) through its parent company Payward, officially expanding into the UAE market and allowing retail and institutional investors to conduct spot and margin trading. Users can now trade, deposit, and withdraw in UAE dirhams (AED). In addition, customers can also engage in staking and access the encrypted transfer platforms of Xstocks and Kraken. Kraken stated that this is just the beginning of their plans for the UAE market, and in the future, they will launch encrypted derivatives and income-generating products, which are expected to be available by the end of 2026 or early 2027. All products will require regulatory approval from VARA.