Coinbase-Backed Flowdesk Lands Full VARA Broker-Dealer Nod

Flowdesk, the institutional crypto market maker backed by Coinbase Ventures and BlackRock, has secured a full broker-dealer licence from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, completing a multi-stage process that positions the firm to serve institutional investors across the emirate.

The licence was granted to Flowdesk's local entity, Flowdesk Omega FZE, and announced on August 10, 2026. It authorises regulated broker-dealer services for Qualified and Institutional Investors in and from Dubai.

From Provisional to Full Approval

Flowdesk Omega FZE obtained its In-Principle Approval from VARA in June 2026. The full licence marks completion of the regulator's multi-stage application process, with the two-month transition signalling both the maturity of Flowdesk's compliance infrastructure and VARA's confidence in its operational readiness.

The Dubai entity operates from One Central in the Trade Centre 2 district, led by General Manager Charles Tighe, Chief Risk Officer Romain Berry, and Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer Anwar Shareef.

What the Licence Unlocks

Flowdesk is a full-service digital asset trading and technology firm specialising in liquidity solutions and over-the-counter trading for institutional clients and digital asset issuers. Under the full VARA licence, Flowdesk Omega FZE can now offer regulated broker-dealer services, bridging traditional finance and digital assets with liquidity, trading infrastructure, and compliance assurance for sophisticated market participants.

A Global Regulatory Footprint

The Dubai licence is not Flowdesk's first. On June 29, 2026, Flowdesk Europe received Crypto-Asset Service Provider authorisation from France's Autorite des Marches Financiers under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, enabling regulated crypto-asset services across all member states. With MiCA authorisation in Europe and a full VARA licence in Dubai, Flowdesk now holds regulated status in two of the world's most significant digital asset regimes.

Broader Industry Momentum

Flowdesk's approval arrives amid accelerating broker-dealer activity. Earlier in August, crypto market maker Wintermute launched a US broker-dealer for stocks and options. In July, BitGo and OTC Markets announced plans to provide trading and custody infrastructure for more than 150 broker-dealers via OTS Link ATS. ARP Digital also secured a Dubai VARA broker-dealer licence on the same day, underscoring the emirate's growing role as a regulatory hub.

A Defining Milestone

Guilhem Chaumont, Co-founder and CEO of Flowdesk Group, called the licence a defining milestone. VARA has built one of the world's clearest and most ambitious frameworks for virtual assets, he said, adding that the approval reflected the depth of work invested in governance, compliance, risk management, and institutional-grade market infrastructure.