DMCC and Crypto.com Move Commodities Trading On-Chain
What the partnership actually means
, the Dubai-based trade hub that sits at the centre of global flows for commodities like gold, diamonds, energy and agricultural products, has signed a strategic partnership with . The goal is straightforward: explore how blockchain technology can be used to modernise how commodities are financed, traded and settled.
Under the agreement, both sides will look at practical use cases rather than abstract concepts. These include the potential tokenisation of commodities, how those assets might be custodied, how liquidity could be supported, and whether digital assets could play a role in payments across DMCC’s platforms and member companies. Any listings on Crypto.com would still need to pass regulatory checks and listing requirements, but the door is now open for serious evaluation.
This is not about launching a flood of new tokens overnight. It is about testing whether existing trade infrastructure can be improved using blockchain rails that already exist, under clear regulatory oversight.
Why commodities are a logical next step for tokenisation
While crypto markets move at internet speed, commodities trading often does not. Settlement can take days, financing ties up capital, and price transparency varies widely by market and geography. These inefficiencies have been accepted as “just how things work” for decades.
Tokenisation offers a way to chip away at those frictions. Putting real assets on-chain can shorten settlement cycles, make ownership easier to track, and potentially open access to a broader pool of market participants. For a hub like DMCC, which hosts more than 26,000 companies across trade and technology, even modest efficiency gains can have a meaningful impact.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said:
“The rapid ascent of tokenisation is a structural opportunity to modernise how commodities are financed, traded and settled, bringing greater transparency and widening access to global markets. For a sector that still relies on legacy systems and sluggish settlement cycles, the ability to move real assets on-chain is a practical step toward a more efficient trading environment. By partnering with Crypto.com, we will explore high-value applications ranging from the secure issuance and management of tokenised commodities to new models for custody, liquidity and digital asset payments, reinforcing the foundations for the next evolution of global trade. This work positions firmly at the centre of that transition.”
Dubai’s regulatory setup also matters. DMCC’s work builds on its earlier partnership with the Dubai Virtual Assets Authority (VARA), signalling that this effort is meant to fit within a compliant framework rather than operate on the margins. That distinction is critical if tokenised commodities are ever going to be used at scale.
Investor Takeaway
Crypto.com’s role beyond trading
For Crypto.com, the partnership reflects a broader shift in focus. Large platforms are no longer just competing on fees and token listings. Increasingly, they are positioning themselves as infrastructure providers for real-world assets.
Working with DMCC gives access to a deep pool of institutional participants and real trade flows. It also allows the platform to apply its experience in custody, liquidity and compliance to assets that already have established demand outside the crypto-native world.
Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer, , said:
“Tokenised real-world assets represent one of the most significant advancements in the digital economy. Working with DMCC – a global leader in trade facilitation and an established hub for innovation – provides an exceptional platform to explore these opportunities responsibly and at scale. Together, we aim to advance infrastructure that supports the next chapter of tokenisation, global trade and digital financial services.”
Mohammed Al Hakim, General Manager UAE of , said:
“It is an honour to be working with DMCC to enhance Dubai’s digital asset ecosystem and introduce innovative ways blockchain technology can integrate and interact with traditional financial infrastructure. DMCC is the key institution in the development and enhancement of Dubai’s business sector and we are proud to assist this community thrive.”
The collaboration also includes education and technical initiatives through the DMCC Crypto Centre. These programmes are aimed at assisting businesses understand what tokenisation can and cannot do, which is often missing in ahead-stage adoption cycles.
What to watch as this develops
The largegest challenge will be execution. Commodities tokenisation raises hard questions around legal ownership, cross-border enforcement, and integration with existing trade finance systems. These are not difficultys that technology alone can solve.
That said, the partnership signals intent from both sides to move beyond theory. If DMCC and Crypto.com can demonstrate even a few working models—such as tokenised settlement for specific commodities or clearer custody frameworks—it could encourage other trade hubs to follow a similar path.
For , this fits neatly into a wider strategy of positioning itself as a bridge between traditional trade and regulated digital finance. For investors and market participants, it is another sign that blockchain adoption is gradually shifting toward areas where it can deliver measurable, real-world improvements.
Investor Takeaway
If tokenisation is going to matter beyond crypto markets, it will likely begin in places like this—quietly improving how real assets move, settle and are financed across borders.
