Startale Group is entering the Abu Dhabi market after winning a spot in Hub71’s latest Digital Assets cohort. Hub71 selected the Web3 infrastructure company as one of 27 startups from more than 2,400 global applicants.
Through Hub71, Startale will establish operations inside Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the emirate’s international financial center. ADGM has a dedicated regulatory framework for digital assets that has already attracted several global blockchain firms.
CEO Sota Watanabe says Abu Dhabi offers the regulatory clarity and global reach the company needs to scale its ecosystem responsibly. He also describes the city as a growing hub for digital assets that connects Eastern and Western markets.
How Hub71 Supports Startale’s Abu Dhabi Move
Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s state‑backed tech ecosystem, launched in 2019 and based in ADGM on Al Maryah Island. It connects startups with government entities, institutional investors, and corporate partners across the region.
By joining Hub71’s digital assets program, Startale gains access to office space, market entry support, and a network of capital providers. TMubadala and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development support the ecosystem and back the city’s push into Web3.
Hub71’s team said Startale’s focus on digital asset infrastructure matches the specialist ecosystems they are building in Abu Dhabi. They highlighted the company as an example of founders using the city as a base for global expansion.
What Startale Plans to Build from ADGM
Startale is known for building Web3 infrastructure, including public blockchain networks, applications, and stablecoin products. The group operates Astar Network, a major public blockchain in Japan, and co‑develops Soneium, a next‑generation Ethereum layer‑2 built with Sony.
From its Abu Dhabi base, Startale plans to expand three core parts of its ecosystem. These include blockchain infrastructure such as Soneium and Strium, its Startale App, and stablecoin initiatives like USDSC and JPYSC.
The company will deploy personnel in Abu Dhabi and work closely with regulators, investors, and partners through Hub71’s platform. It aims to use the emirate as a launchpad for growth across the Middle East and wider global markets.
Abu Dhabi has positioned ADGM as a regulated base for global digital asset companies, including exchanges and infrastructure providers. Its Hub71+ Digital Assets program targets Web3 startups and “unicorn”‑stage firms that want clearer rules and access to institutional capital.
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