UAE Places DeFi Under Central Bank Regulation via Federal Decree No. 6

The United Arab Emirates enacted Federal Decree No. 6 of 2025, bringing decentralized finance and Web3 operations under central bank oversight effective September 16, 2025. The decree mandates licensing for payment, lending, trading, and custody services by September 2026. Non-compliance carries penalties up to 1 billion dirhams, approximately $272 million.