Blockchain infrastructure firm Startale Group is expanding into Abu Dhabi after being selected for the Hub71+ Digital Assets cohort.
Key Takeaways:
- Startale Group joins Hub71’s 18th cohort to anchor operations within the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
- The move and a $63 million Series A round bolster infrastructure for coins like JPYSC and USDSC.
- Startale will now deploy staff in Abu Dhabi to scale blockchain innovation across the Middle East in 2026.
Strategic Regulatory Integration
Startale Group, a blockchain infrastructure company, is establishing operations in Abu Dhabi after its selection for the Hub71+ Digital Assets cohort, a dedicated Web3 specialist ecosystem, with more than $2 billion of capital committed to fund Web3 startups and blockchain technologies. The move strengthens the firm’s ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing, state-backed crypto ecosystems.
The program, supported by Mubadala Investment Co. and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, will anchor Startale within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). ADGM has emerged as a top financial hub by providing a clear regulatory framework for digital assets, attracting global blockchain innovators.
Selected from a pool of more than 2,400 applicants, Startale is one of 27 companies joining the latest Hub71 cohort. According to a media statement, the move connects the firm to a network of regulators, institutional partners and capital providers driving the region’s digital asset strategy.
“Hub71 and Abu Dhabi Global Market provide the regulatory clarity and global reach we need to scale Startale’s ecosystem responsibly,” said Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Group. “Abu Dhabi is becoming a key hub for digital assets, and joining this cohort positions us to expand across Eastern and Western markets.”
The expansion follows Startale’s $63 million Series A funding round, which bolstered its ability to accelerate blockchain and stablecoin infrastructure in regulated markets. The company is advancing Soneium (developed with Sony Block Solutions Labs), Strium, and stablecoin projects such as JPYSC (with SBI Group) and USDSC, alongside its consumer-facing Startale App.
Under the Hub71+ Digital Assets program, Startale will scale across three focus areas: blockchain infrastructure, application development and stablecoin innovation.
“We are pleased to welcome Startale Group into Hub71’s Cohort 18,” said Divya Claudia Nair, startup journey lead at Hub71. “Their focus on digital asset infrastructure reflects the strength of our specialist ecosystems and the caliber of founders choosing Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for global growth.”
Startale plans to deploy personnel in Abu Dhabi and collaborate with regulators, investors and partners as it expands across the Middle East and beyond.