Just days after its mainnet launch, the ADI Foundation has announced strategic collaborations with BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton. These partnerships signal strong institutional confidence in ADI Chain, the MENA region’s first large-scale institutional Layer 2 blockchain built with compliance and regulatory alignment at its core.
Institutional Confidence Takes Shape
Each collaboration reflects a distinct pillar of institutional blockchain infrastructure:
- BlackRock entered into a memorandum of understanding with the ADI Foundation to explore advancing blockchain adoption across global financial markets. The collaboration focuses on developing institution-grade tokenized asset structures, improving distribution mechanisms, and strengthening regulatory clarity—reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global digital asset hub.
- Mastercard is partnering with ADI to support blockchain-powered payments and asset tokenization across the Middle East. The initiative aims to enable stablecoin settlement, cross-border payments, and compliant digital asset rails designed to operate within regulatory frameworks.
- Franklin Templeton has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the ADI Foundation to explore regulated digital asset infrastructure within Abu Dhabi Global Market. The partnership emphasizes compliant pathways for launching tokenized investment products, building efficient digital settlement rails, and conducting research into stablecoins and tokenized assets that meet regulatory standards.
In parallel, the ADI Foundation confirmed its expansion within the UAE earlier this month, further underscoring accelerating institutional blockchain adoption across the region.
The speed and scale of these partnerships—secured within days of launch—highlight a growing institutional demand for blockchain infrastructure designed specifically for regulation, governance, and large-scale deployment.
Market Launch and Accessibility
The ADI utility token launched alongside the ADI Chain mainnet and quickly became accessible through major global exchanges and regional platforms. Early market response reflected strong interest not only from institutions but also from broader market participants seeking compliance-ready blockchain infrastructure.
Building a Scalable Institutional Ecosystem
With BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton onboard, the ADI ecosystem now spans partnerships across more than 20 countries. Over 50 institutional and enterprise-grade projects are already in advanced stages of deployment on ADI Chain, with additional collaborations continuing to form.
Active and upcoming deployments demonstrate real-world institutional use cases:
- TravAI by Near Protocol brings onchain travel management, with payments settled directly on ADI Chain.
- ADREC is collaborating with the ADI Foundation on pilot initiatives across Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector, including property registration, title validation, transaction management, and shared ownership models.
- Esyasoft Holding is leveraging blockchain infrastructure to support energy transition initiatives for governments and utility providers.
- Emirates Driving Company is piloting blockchain solutions to modernize workflows and payments across the UAE’s driver education ecosystem.
Strategic technology partnerships further strengthen the network. Zero-knowledge proof infrastructure powers privacy and scalability, while enterprise-grade deployment tools, cross-chain interoperability, and real-time blockchain data solutions support institutional operations at national scale.
Infrastructure Milestones and Education Initiatives
ADI Chain has also been selected to host the UAE dirham-backed stablecoin, to be issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC under the supervision of the UAE Central Bank. This milestone positions ADI Chain as a core settlement layer for regulated digital currency infrastructure in the region.
Beyond technology, the ADI Foundation is investing in talent development. In partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Market and leading universities, the Foundation will launch the Future Tech 4.0 initiative, aiming to train more than 10,000 Web3 professionals.
One Year of Purpose-Built Growth
While many Layer 2 blockchains prioritize speed and low transaction costs, ADI Chain was designed with a different philosophy: regulatory alignment, institutional readiness, and government-grade deployment.
The ADI Foundation was first announced at Abu Dhabi Finance Week one year ago. Twelve months later, the project has progressed from concept to fully operational mainnet, with global institutions confirming partnerships almost immediately after launch.
The rapid engagement from BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton reflects long-term confidence built through close observation and strategic alignment. With ADI Chain establishing itself as the institutional Layer 2 for the MENA region, the category has been defined before competitors could stake a claim.
ADI’s long-term vision is ambitious: onboarding one billion people into the digital economy by 2030. With the mainnet live, partnerships spanning 20 countries, over 50 projects ready to deploy, and access to more than 500 million people already within reach, that goal now appears increasingly achievable.
About ADI Chain
The ADI Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Abu Dhabi and founded by Sirius International Holding, a subsidiary of IHC. Its mission is to empower governments and institutions in emerging markets through secure, compliant blockchain infrastructure, with the objective of bringing one billion people into the digital economy by 2030.
ADI Chain is the MENA region’s first institutional Layer 2 blockchain designed for stablecoins and real-world assets. Built on the pillars of compliance, efficiency, and security, it provides settlement infrastructure for regulated digital currencies and supports government-led blockchain initiatives across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
