CertiK scales UAE presence as regional crypto losses hit $8 million

The firm’s expansion includes a strategic push into Abu Dhabi, where it serves as an official vendor for the Hub71 ecosystem. Through this partnership, startups operating within the Abu Dhabi Global Market gain access to discounted security audits and complimentary use of CertiK’s compliance tools, a move intended to help emerging firms navigate complex licensing requirements.

Beyond startup support, CertiK is working directly with established exchanges to prove financial health. In March 2026, the company completed a Proof of Reserves verification for the VARA-licensed Gate Dubai. The audit confirmed that the exchange maintained at least 100% coverage across 10 digital assets, a benchmark for transparency in an industry currently struggling to bridge the trust gap with traditional finance.

However, CertiK warned that the $8.02 million loss figure likely underestimates the actual threat landscape. With five separate incidents identified—one of which remains unquantified—the firm notes that significant gaps in incident reporting and attribution continue to obscure the full scale of security risks. Jason Jiang, the company’s chief business officer, emphasized that while regulatory approval provides a necessary foundation, protecting customer assets requires a continuous, proactive approach to risk management as operations scale.