The ADI Foundation has announced that ADI Chain, the MENA region’s first institutional Layer 2 blockchain, has secured partnerships with BlackRock, Mastercard and Franklin Templeton within days of its mainnet launch, signalling early institutional confidence in compliance-focused blockchain infrastructure.
Under a memorandum of understanding with the ADI Foundation, BlackRock will explore initiatives aimed at accelerating blockchain adoption across financial markets, with a focus on institution-grade tokenised asset structures, distribution models and regulatory-aligned frameworks that support market development. The collaboration is positioned to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s role as a global digital asset hub.
Mastercard’s partnership centres on blockchain-based payments and asset tokenisation across the Middle East. The collaboration will examine the use of stablecoin settlement, cross-border payments and regulated digital asset rails designed to operate within existing compliance requirements.
Franklin Templeton has also signed an MoU with the ADI Foundation to explore regulated digital asset infrastructure within Abu Dhabi Global Market. The partnership will focus on developing compliant pathways for institutions to create and launch tokenised products, enhancing digital distribution and settlement rails, and conducting research into stablecoins and tokenised assets aligned with regulatory standards.
The Foundation separately confirmed a UAE expansion announced on December 10, underscoring growing momentum behind institutional blockchain adoption in the region.
Mainnet launch and ecosystem growth
ADI Chain’s mainnet launched alongside the ADI utility token, which became available on Kraken, Crypto.com and KuCoin, with subsequent access through Wallet in Telegram and Fasset. According to the Foundation, early market interest reflects demand for compliance-ready blockchain infrastructure extending beyond institutional users.
The ADI ecosystem now spans partnerships across more than 20 countries, with over 50 institutional and enterprise projects in the deployment pipeline. Active use cases include Near Protocol’s TravAI travel management platform, ADREC-led pilots across Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector, Esyasoft Holding’s energy transition initiatives, and Emirates Driving Company’s blockchain pilots within the UAE’s driver education ecosystem.
Core infrastructure partners include ZKsync for zero-knowledge proof technology, Alchemy for large-scale deployment capabilities, WalletConnect for interoperability and Covalent for real-time blockchain data services.
Regulated stablecoin and skills development
ADI Chain has been selected to host the UAE dirham-backed stablecoin to be issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC, which is set to be regulated by the UAE Central Bank. Alongside infrastructure development, the Foundation plans to launch the ‘Future Tech 4.0’ education initiative in partnership with ADGM and leading universities, with the objective of training more than 10,000 Web3 specialists.
Formed one year ago and unveiled at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the ADI Foundation said the transition from formation to a live mainnet within 12 months reflects its strategy of prioritising regulatory alignment and government-grade deployment over transaction speed and fees. The Foundation has stated that its long-term objective is to bring one billion people on-chain by 2030.
