The APAC crypto battle intensifies as Robinhood enters Indonesia and Binance wins full Abu Dhabi approval

The Asia-Pacific region has long been one of the most competitive arenas for global crypto companies—and this week, the race reached a new level. Two major moves by industry heavyweights signaled just how important APAC has become for firms looking to solidify their international presence.

Robinhood announced its plans to acquire two fully licensed Indonesian financial companies, marking the company’s first major step into Southeast Asia. Almost immediately after, Binance revealed that it had secured a full set of regulatory licenses from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), becoming the first crypto exchange to operate under comprehensive, end-to-end oversight in the emirate.

Together, these developments highlight a defining moment in the APAC crypto landscape, as major players jockey for position in some of the world’s fastest-growing digital asset markets.

Robinhood expands into Indonesia

Robinhood has signed agreements to acquire PT Buana Capital Sekuritas, a licensed brokerage, and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, an officially regulated crypto trading entity in Indonesia.

This dual acquisition instantly gives Robinhood access to one of Southeast Asia’s liveliest retail trading environments, while providing a strong regulatory base in a country where crypto adoption has grown faster than traditional stock trading.

Patrick Chan, Robinhood’s Head of Asia, emphasized that Indonesia represents a rapidly expanding market and that the company intends to bring the same intuitive user experience that fueled its growth in the U.S.

Once the transaction closes, Robinhood plans to continue servicing Buana Capital’s existing customers while rolling out new offerings—including U.S. equities, crypto trading, and potentially more asset classes. This marks one of Robinhood’s most significant moves toward operating on a truly global scale and puts it in direct competition with established regional players like Tokocrypto and Indodax.

Binance earns landmark full licensing in Abu Dhabi

While Robinhood sets its sights on Southeast Asia, Binance has achieved a major regulatory milestone in the Middle East.

The FSRA of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) granted Binance the complete set of licenses required to run a fully regulated digital asset ecosystem—covering a trading exchange, a clearing and custody provider, and a broker-dealer platform.

This makes Binance the first global crypto exchange to earn full operational authorization under the FSRA’s oversight. The approval covers three Binance-affiliated “Nest” entities responsible for trading, custody, settlement, and advisory services.

The achievement aligns with Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become a global hub for regulated crypto and fintech activity. It also gives Binance a significant strategic advantage in a region where regulatory credibility is becoming a key differentiator.

Binance Co-CEO Richard Teng celebrated the approval, stating:

“We have become the first global exchange to secure comprehensive regulatory approval from a world-respected regulator—FSRA ADGM—to have its global operations and liquidity supervised end-to-end. Earning a full FSRA license reflects the strength of our foundations and our commitment to building the most trusted and compliant global exchange.”

Why APAC matters more than ever

The APAC region has quickly emerged as the most critical battleground for global crypto companies. Stronger regulatory frameworks, growing institutional interest, and sustained retail demand have transformed the region into a must-win market.

On-chain activity in APAC has skyrocketed—from $81 billion in mid-2022 to $244 billion by late 2024. Major exchanges have taken notice:

• Coinbase secured a Major Payment Institution license in Singapore and later launched “Coinbase Business,” its first platform built outside the U.S.
  
• OKX, Bybit, and Kraken have all expanded by securing new licenses, launching region-specific trading products, and increasing local hiring.
  
• Binance, despite challenges in Western markets, remains deeply embedded throughout Asia and the Middle East through partnerships and regulatory integrations.
  

In several key jurisdictions, APAC now accounts for more than 70% of global crypto exposure.

Against this backdrop, Robinhood’s Indonesia expansion and Binance’s full licensing in Abu Dhabi are more than just isolated announcements—they’re clear signals that the APAC crypto race is accelerating rapidly. The region has become the proving ground where global strategies, regulatory compliance, and market leadership are being tested in real time.

Disclaimer

This rewritten article is based on the original version published on CCN. You can read the original at: https://www.ccn.com/