Avalanche Foundation Establishes DLT Foundation in Abu Dhabi Global Market for MENA Regional Growth

A deep look at how Avalanche is building a compliant, resilient foundation to support enterprise collaboration, developer growth, and long-term Web3 adoption across the MENA region.

On December 10, the Avalanche Foundation announced the formal incorporation of a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundation within Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a significant milestone in Avalanche’s long-term vision to support Web3 adoption, enterprise partnerships, and ecosystem growth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The new DLT entity will become Avalanche’s primary foundation in the region, organizing ecosystem programs, partnerships, government initiatives, startup support, and developer outreach under a trusted legal and regulatory framework. The DLT foundation will also combine existing MENA-sourced programs into a single foundation, reducing operational friction and offering a much more transparent system for local development.

Why ADGM Matters for Web3 Foundations

ADGM is one of the most advanced regulatory environments for blockchain foundations and decentralized entities. It launched the world’s first dedicated framework for DLT entities, built specifically for foundations, DAOs, and token-based governance organizations. The DLT system enables utility token issuance, digital asset management, decentralized decision-making, and governance in a legal and regulatory framework without forcing organizations to adopt a traditional corporate model that often conflicts with native, blockchain-based governance.

ADGM is governed by English Common Law, a widely trusted legal standard adopted by banks, government partners, and multinational enterprises around the world. For Avalanche, it provides regulatory clarity, legal durability, and a structure that closely aligns with decentralized ecosystems.

How the Avalanche DLT Foundation will Operate

The Avalanche DLT Foundation will act as the primary Avalanche regional entity for all operations in MENA. Ecosystem programs, enterprise partnerships, government collaborations, and startup engagement originating in MENA will flow through the DLT foundation. This includes all existing programs as well as new initiatives developed in conjunction with the Avalanche Foundation.

By incorporating with ADGM, Avalanche is able to structure partnerships and agreements, engage in governance, support compliant token-based arrangements and mechanisms, and transact in digital assets with the kind of transparency and trust that institutional partners are seeking. It also creates a much stronger foundation for enterprise adoption and long-term ecosystem development.

Abu Dhabi as a Web3 Hub

Abu Dhabi has quickly become a key center of innovation for digital assets, fintech, and emerging technology companies in the region. Home to global capital and corporate headquarters, with strong government initiatives and international connectivity, it provides a natural base for Avalanche’s long-term plans in MENA.

Avalanche has been engaged in Abu Dhabi in a variety of ways, including Abu Dhabi Finance Week participation, keynotes from Avalanche leadership, demo days and outreach for developers, and regional ecosystem pilots with support from local innovation programs.

A New Era of Regional Expansion

Establishing a DLT Foundation within ADGM gives Avalanche the ability to operate with regulatory certainty, build alongside enterprise & institutional partners, and help drive the next wave of Web3 adoption in the region. This move strengthens Avalanche’s commitment to the MENA ecosystem, provides long-term support for the region’s digital infrastructure development, and underscores the alignment between decentralized innovation and real-world compliance.