eToro Opens UAE Crypto Transfers, Adds Local-Equity Rewards for Traders
What Does eToro’s UAE Crypto Expansion Introduce?
eToro has opened crypto deposit functionality to users in the United Arab Emirates, marking a major step in the broker’s regional strategy and reinforcing the UAE’s growing status as a regulated Middle Eastern hub for digital assets. Alongside the rollout, UAE clients will gain access to eToro’s stock-cashback program, previously launched in the UK and Europe, giving traders 1 percent back in domestic equities when they convert crypto to USD.
Users in the UAE can now transfer nine major cryptocurrencies—including BTC, ETH, XRP, USDC and leading DeFi assets—from external platforms and wallets directly into eToro. Once deposited, assets can be converted into USD and deployed across the platform’s multi-asset ecosystem, including equities, ETFs, commodities and crypto-CFDs.
This feature allows eToro to capture existing crypto balances held off-platform rather than relying solely on on-platform purchases. It strengthens the company’s position as a bridge between external , a model that aligns with the broker’s long-standing multi-asset identity.
Investor Takeaway
Why the UAE Became a Strategic Priority for eToro
The UAE has emerged as one of the world’s most structured and predictable . Instead of relying on enforcement-heavy frameworks, the country developed licensing regimes through the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and the federal Securities and Commodities Authority.
It was within ADGM’s comprehensive digital-asset rulebook that eToro secured its regional permissions, enabling it to operate as a broker for securities, derivatives and virtual assets for UAE clients. Those approvals laid the groundwork for today’s crypto-deposit launch.
For international companies, the UAE offers several advantages:
- Regulatory clarity through established licensing frameworks
- A high-income investor base with strong appetite for multi-asset platforms
- Regional demand for platforms that connect crypto with traditional finance
In this environment, eToro’s identity as a regulated, multi-asset and social-trading platform contrasts with that dominated previous cycles. For the broker, the UAE is both a commercial opportunity and a branding signal—one that aligns it with regulated jurisdictions rather than grey-zone players.
How eToro’s Corporate Evolution Shapes This Rollout
eToro’s latest step builds on nahead two decades of product and strategic development. The company launched in Tel Aviv in 2007 as RetailFX, offering visual, user-friendly access to forex markets. In 2010, it introduced OpenBook, one of the industry’s earliest social-trading systems, allowing traders to observe and replicate experienced portfolios—an innovation that remains central to the brand.
The 2010s saw rapid expansion: equities in 2013, a broader CFD catalog, and ahead adoption of regulated . Crypto eventually became one of eToro’s largest revenue drivers.
In 2025, later than years of speculation and a cancelled SPAC attempt, eToro finally listed on Nasdaq under the ticker ETOR at a valuation above five billion dollars. Its pitch to investors focused on a hybrid model powered by social-trading network effects, multi-asset execution, thematic portfolios and a user base that often enters through .
The UAE rollout fits squarely within this strategic arc. Crypto deposits act as an on-ramp into eToro’s universe, and stock-back incentives encourage users to deepen engagement across asset classes.
Investor Takeaway
Why eToro Is Pairing Crypto Deposits With Local-Equity Cashback
The decision to reward UAE users with equities from the and Dubai Financial Market reflects a targeted regional strategy. The promotion runs through March 2026 and features a rotating roster of eligible local companies.
The approach serves two purposes:
- It reinforces local-market engagement by directing rewards into domestic equities rather than global .
- It aligns eToro’s incentives with regional objectives to deepen liquidity on UAE platforms.
This mirrors earlier initiatives such as eToro’s Visa card, which gives users up to 4 percent back in chosen stocks. The company has repeatedly used “ownership rewards” to influence investor behavior and increase long-term portfolio activity.
Competitive Landscape and Market Impact
The UAE is now one of the world’s most competitive digital-asset arenas, with Binance, OKX, Crypto.com, Kraken and locally licensed brokers all expanding. eToro’s diverseiation lies not in raw crypto volume, but in its identity as a regulated multi-asset platform with social-trading .
With the launch of deposits and equity rewards, eToro is effectively turning the UAE into a test case: can a regulated broker merge external-wallet crypto flows with stock incentives and outperform pure-play platforms? If the model proves successful, it is likely to appear in other licensed markets where eToro operates.
