Startale Group, the global crypto infrastructure company behind Japan’s largest public Astar Network chain, is taking one of the world’s fastest-growing state-backed crypto ecosystems in
Abu Dhabi
The company was selected as one of 27 firms from more than 2,400 global applicants for the Hub71 Digital Assets Cohort
As part of the program, it will establish operations in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a financial free zone with a regulatory framework for digital assets that has attracted a growing number of blockchain companies.
The move comes shortly after Startale closed a $63 million Series A funding round, where it raised $50 million from Japan’s financial giant SBI Group and $13 million from Sony Innovation Fund
Government-Backed Digital Assets Cohort
The Hub71 Digital Assets cohort is a government-backed accelerator in Abu Dhabi that selects blockchain and crypto companies to operate within the emirate’s regulated financial ecosystem and scale globally under local regulatory frameworks.
Through the program, Startale will set up operations in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the city’s financial free zone that provides a regulatory regime for digital assets and has become a base for a growing number of blockchain firms.
“Abu Dhabi is becoming a key hub for digital assets, and joining this cohort positions us to expand across Eastern and Western markets, working closely with regulators and institutional partners,” said Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Group.
Core Projects Across Sony and SBI Partnerships
Startale develops the Soneium blockchain through Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture with Sony Group Corporation
It also works on Strium and stablecoin projects, including JPYSC in partnership with SBI Group, as well as USDSC and the Startale App.
The company’s entry into ADGM places it within a regulatory framework increasingly used by crypto firms seeking formal licensing structures and access to institutional capital.
Operational Plans Under Hub71 Program
Under the Hub71 Digital Assets program, Startale will operate across its core areas: blockchain infrastructure via Soneium and Strium, its application layer through the Startale App, and its stablecoin initiatives USDSC and JPYSC.
The company will send team members to Abu Dhabi and collaborate with regulators, investors, and partners via the Hub71 platform as it grows its presence in the Middle East and beyond.
Why This Matters
By establishing a presence in ADGM, Startale strengthens its ability to extend Japan’s tokenized finance capabilities to international markets while tapping into the Middle East’s expanding digital assets sector.
The move also highlights Abu Dhabi’s push to position itself as a regulated hub for digital assets, competing with jurisdictions such as Singapore and Hong Kong for blockchain firms and capital.
By bringing companies like Startale into its Hub71 ecosystem, the emirate is building a state-backed infrastructure layer for crypto under formal regulatory oversight.
The development reflects a broader shift in the industry toward operating within regulated financial systems rather than offshore crypto environments.
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