Chainberg Secures In-Principle VARA Approval, Steps Closer Towards Full VASP Custody Licence
Dubai, UAE, June 4th, 2026, FinanceWire
Chainberg, the institutional custody arm of global digital asset platform Liminal, obtains IPA, paving the way for obtaining a full VASP License from VARA in Dubai.
Chainberg, an institutional-grade digital asset custody platform, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the penultimate milestone before full authorisation as a licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider(VASP) in one of the world's largest regulated virtual asset markets. Chainberg is the institutional custody arm of Liminal, a global digital asset leader.
VARA's In-Principle Approval confirms that Chainberg has satisfied the regulator's rigorous requirements across governance, compliance infrastructure, risk management, and operational controls to date. The IPA places Chainberg on VARA's publicly accessible register of those virtual asset entities with in-principle approval - a shortlist that today includes only a handful of dedicated custody providers.
With the IPA in hand, Chainberg will now complete the final regulatory requirements to obtain its full VASP licence from VARA, at which point it will be authorised to provide institutional digital asset custody to qualified investors and institutional clients in and from Dubai.
“Receiving VARA’s In-Principle Approval validates the infrastructure and standards we have built into Chainberg from inception. Institutional custody demands more than technology - it demands accountability, governance, and trust. We are committed to completing the final steps swiftly and look forward to offering fully regulated, institutional-grade custody services from the heart of Dubai’s world-leading virtual asset ecosystem.”
- Manan Vora, General Manager and Executive Director, Chainberg.
What does the IPA Mean?
Established under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022, VARA is the world’s first standalone regulator dedicated exclusively to virtual assets. Its In-Principle Approval is issued only after an applicant demonstrates full compliance with VARA’s governance, anti-money laundering, risk management, and technology security frameworks - making it a substantive regulatory endorsement, not merely a procedural step.
Applicants holding an IPA are listed on VARA’s public register but remain prohibited from servicing clients until the full VASP licence is granted. Dubai’s virtual asset market has recorded over AED 2.5 trillion in trading volumes since the start of 2025, cementing the emirate’s position as the world’s largest licensed virtual asset ecosystem.
About Chainberg
Chainberg is a digital asset custody platform purpose-built for institutional clients and qualified investors. Chainberg is the custody arm of Liminal, a global digital asset leader.
In Dubai, under VARA’s regulatory framework, Chainberg launches with compliance embedded at its core, combining custody architecture, institutional-grade risk controls, and governance designed to meet the standards of regulated financial markets. Engineered to serve institutional clients across the APAC and MENA regions- including digital asset exchanges, hedge funds and asset managers, public institutions, VC and investment firms, corporate treasuries, and family offices- Chainberg provides secure, auditable, and fully regulated access to the virtual asset ecosystem. The platform’s core capabilities include:
- Institutional-grade digital asset custody.
- A compliance-first onboarding process designed for qualified investors and institutional entities.
- Advanced reporting and governance frameworks strictly aligned with VARA’s regulatory standards.
Users can visit www.chainberg.com for more information.
Contact
AVP , Global Brand and CommunicationsAanandita Bhatnagar
Liminal Custody
aananditabhatnagar@lmnl.app
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