Compliance Champions: From Suit & Tie to Smart Contracts & Compliance in the UAE

Deepak Garg, Group CCO at M2, talks about building and scaling a regulated digital asset platform in Abu Dhabi’s ADGM under the FSRA. Deepak, who brings decades of experience from traditional finance and digital banking, shares his journey into the crypto space, from licensing work at Kraken to leading compliance at M2, and offers practical strategies for thriving under one of the world’s most comprehensive crypto regulatory regimes.

Highlights from the conversation:

• Choosing ADGM’s FSRA: Why M2 prioritised a globally respected regulatory framework.
• Licensing Requirements: Governance, AML/CFT controls, tech readiness, and customers protections.
• Market Abuse Surveillance: Real-time monitoring tools and preventing insider trading.
• Travel Rule Implementation: Risk-based compliance and cross-border interoperability.
• Global Standards Alignment: Maintaining consistency across jurisdictions
• DeFi Engagement: KYT processes, blockchain analytics, and counterparty risk management.
• Tax Reporting Preparation: Getting ready for CRS and CARF before deadlines.

Tune in for actionable insights that bridge the gap between TradFi compliance culture and the fast-moving world of digital assets.