Investing in Digital Currency Won’t Get You a UAE Golden Visa – Authorities Clarify
The UAE’s top regulatory bodies — the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) — have officially denied this claim.
What Happened?
Last week, a statement from The Open Network (TON), a blockchain project previously linked with Telegram, suggested that investors could receive a 10 year UAE Golden Visa by staking $100,000 in TON cryptocurrency and paying a $35,000 processing fee. The announcement gained viral attention across the crypto world.
Even Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, questioned the legitimacy of the offer, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “Is this real? It would be awesome IF it is true. But I’ve gotten conflicting info so far.”
UAE Authorities Respond
In a joint statement, UAE regulators confirmed that there is no such programme offering golden visas in exchange for cryptocurrency investments. They emphasized that the Golden Visa is granted only through officially approved categories, which include:
Real estate investors
Entrepreneurs
Exceptional talents
Scientists and specialists
Top students and graduates
Humanitarian pioneers
Frontline workers
TON is not licensed or regulated by VARA, and the public was warned to only engage with licensed and verified platforms when dealing with virtual assets.
Why This Matters
The UAE continues to lead as a hub for innovation, investment, and digital assets — but transparency and regulation are key. The authorities reiterated their commitment to maintaining a safe, credible investment environment and urged the public to always verify news from official sources.
