Blockchain security firm CertiK said its 2026 research identified five digital asset security incidents that either originated in the UAE or involved UAE-registered entities. Four of those cases led to about $8.02 million in documented losses, while the fifth did not have a confirmed loss figure in the research.

The company said the true number of incidents and the total financial impact could be materially higher because of limits in reporting and attribution. The findings, it said, point to ongoing security and operational risks in the UAE’s expanding digital asset market, even as the sector continues to mature.

Research points to gaps beyond licensing

CertiK framed the incidents as a reminder that regulatory approval does not remove core operational and technical risks. According to the company, firms handling digital assets still face issues tied to asset control, smart contract weaknesses, and dependencies across connected infrastructure.

That message comes as financial institutions and digital asset companies broaden their presence in the UAE. In CertiK’s view, expansion increases the need for continuous monitoring and stronger security practices rather than relying on licensing alone as a safeguard.

CertiK outlines its work in the UAE

The company said its activity in the country includes independent reserve verification for Gate Dubai and security and compliance support for startups in Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 ecosystem. CertiK also said it has both engineering and business development staff based in Dubai.

In March 2026, CertiK completed an independent Proof of Reserves verification for Gate Dubai, which is licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, or VARA. The review covered 10 digital assets across nine blockchain networks and, according to CertiK, confirmed at least 100% reserve coverage for every asset within scope as of December 31, 2025.

CertiK described that assessment as independent, point-in-time evidence of reserve coverage intended to support transparency around customer assets. The scope and timing are significant because the verification reflected reserve levels on a specific date rather than an ongoing guarantee.

Support for Abu Dhabi startups

In Abu Dhabi, CertiK said it serves as an official vendor for Hub71, the technology ecosystem based in Abu Dhabi Global Market. Through that arrangement, eligible startups can obtain discounted security services as well as complimentary CertiK Compliance.

The company said those services are designed to help firms preparing for licensing and to support ongoing compliance requirements after approval. The broader implication in CertiK’s account is that compliance preparation and technical security are increasingly being treated as linked parts of operating a digital asset business.

Institutional adoption raises the security bar

CertiK highlighted these themes during a media lunch titled “The Trillion-Dollar Trust Gap,” held alongside Dubai FinTech Summit 2026. At the event, Chief Business Officer Jason Jiang said progress by financial institutions in bringing digital assets into financial services should be matched by practical controls for risk management.

Jiang said regulatory approval is only the starting point and argued that protecting customer assets as operations scale requires continuous security and compliance work. He also said CertiK is expanding beyond Web3 security toward what he described as a broader trust layer for digital value.

For now, the clearest confirmed takeaway from the research is narrow but important: CertiK counted five UAE-linked incidents in 2026, with at least $8.02 million in documented losses across four of them, while warning that incomplete reporting may mean the real total is higher.

Source: beincrypto.com