Startale Expands Into Abu Dhabi Through Hub71 as UAE Deepens State-Backed Crypto Push

Startale Group is expanding into Abu Dhabi after being selected for Hub71’s Digital Assets cohort, taking up a base inside Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The blockchain infrastructure firm was one of 27 companies chosen from more than 2,400 applicants, a competitive selection that coincides with Startale’s $63 million Series A and strengthens its footprint across blockchain infrastructure, consumer apps and stablecoin initiatives in regulated markets.

"Hub71 and ADGM offer the regulatory clarity and international reach the company needs to scale more responsibly across both Eastern and Western markets," said Sota Watanabe, chief executive of Startale.

Program placement and strategic context

Hub71 is backed by Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, positioning the accelerator as part of an institutional framework that goes beyond typical startup networking. The placement inside ADGM gives Startale closer access to regulators, capital providers and strategic partners embedded in the UAE’s financial infrastructure — an advantage the company cited as central to its expansion plans.

• Selected: 27 companies from more than 2,400 applicants.
• Backers: Hub71 is supported by Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
• Funding: Startale closed a $63 million Series A prior to the Abu Dhabi move.

Under the Hub71+ Digital Assets program, Startale said it will expand across three core parts of its ecosystem. First, blockchain infrastructure — including Soneium and Strium. Second, the Startale App, described as a gateway into the Soneium ecosystem. Third, stablecoins, specifically USDSC and JPYSC. Soneium is co-developed through Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture with Sony Group Corporation, while JPYSC is being advanced with SBI Group alongside development around USDSC.

The company plans to deploy personnel in Abu Dhabi and engage directly with regulators, investors and partners as it grows across the Middle East and other global markets. That operational commitment reflects a broader trend among crypto infrastructure firms seeking not just market access but regulatory alignment with jurisdictions that are actively structuring digital-asset ecosystems.

Outlook

Startale’s Hub71 placement signals a continued melding of product development and regulation in the digital-assets space, where regulatory clarity is increasingly treated as part of the product story rather than solely a constraint. By situating teams within ADGM and plugging into an accelerator backed by state-linked institutions, Startale is positioning its Soneium, Strium and stablecoin projects to advance under clearer oversight and with enhanced access to capital and strategic partners.

For Abu Dhabi, the addition of Startale further fills out a state-aligned approach to crypto that has progressed with notable speed and coordination; for Startale, the move bolsters its ability to scale across Eastern and Western markets while deepening relationships with Sony Group Corporation, SBI Group and other strategic collaborators.