Just saw some news: a leading exchange has secured an operating license in Abu Dhabi. Starting from January 5, 2026, they’ll be upgrading their services and updating their privacy policy accordingly.

This is actually quite significant.

Think about it—last year, a platform ran into trouble with user assets because they didn’t keep up with regulations. Now, proactively getting licensed might mean some short-term changes to withdrawal processes or leverage rules, but in the long run, this is a good thing for retail investors like us—it means our funds will be safer. Traditional capital will also feel more confident about entering the market, which naturally leads to greater market stability.

The Middle East has always been strict about compliance, so being able to secure this license means the exchange has done its homework. It’s not just paving the way for themselves—it’s paving the way for the whole market.

Some people might worry this will affect trading. My view: there will definitely be some short-term volatility, but you need to hold your core positions. When an exchange went compliant in 2023, trading volumes did drop for the first couple of months, but once institutional funds came in half a year later, the market really took off. So the most important thing right now is not to act rashly—hold onto your spot positions and don’t let market swings shake you out.

Of course, we’ll still need to wait for the detailed rules to be released, especially regarding account security and any product changes, so I recommend everyone keep a close eye on that.

Personally, I think compliance isn’t a bad thing—it’s a sign the industry is maturing. Instead of blindly following the crowd, be patient and wait for the right opportunity—act decisively when the time comes. The more professional the market becomes, the more retail investors need to learn to take advantage of it.