Emirates NBD adds USDU stablecoin to Liv, giving customers a regulated dollar token in-app

Emirates NBD will let customers of its Liv digital bank hold USDU, a dollar-backed stablecoin registered with the Central Bank of the UAE, inside the app, the bank said on November 9, 2026. Universal Digital issues the token, and Aquanow supplies the trading infrastructure.

USDU is a US dollar-backed digital asset registered under the Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) Payment Token Services Regulation (PTSR). Its introduction gives Liv customers access to a regulated stablecoin designed to maintain a one-to-one value against the US dollar.

The partnership also builds on Liv’s earlier move into cryptocurrency trading through its Liv X platform, which was launched in 2025. To encourage participation, the bank is offering customers zero-fee crypto trading for the first 90 days.

CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin USDU enters Liv’s banking ecosystem

The integration makes USDU available within Liv’s broader digital banking environment, allowing customers to manage traditional fiat accounts and digital asset holdings through a single mobile application.

Issued by Universal Digital Intl Ltd, USDU is backed on a 1:1 basis by physical US dollar reserves held in UAE-based banks. According to the announcement, the issuer maintains transparency through monthly public attestations, providing information about the reserves supporting the digital asset.

The CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin operates under the UAE central bank’s Payment Token Services Regulation, placing it within the country’s formal regulatory framework for payment tokens.

The integration is supported by Aquanow ME FZE, which provides the institutional infrastructure, liquidity and digital asset transaction rails required for USDU distribution and Liv’s expanding cryptocurrency services.

Aquanow has reportedly processed more than $130 billion in trading volume and holds a Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) licence as a broker-dealer.

The arrangement brings together three different parts of the financial ecosystem: Emirates NBD’s banking network, Universal’s regulated stablecoin issuance and Aquanow’s digital asset infrastructure.

For Liv, the objective is to make digital asset access part of its existing banking experience rather than requiring customers to rely entirely on separate cryptocurrency platforms.

Emirates NBD expands its regulated digital asset strategy

The partnership reflects Emirates NBD’s wider digital transformation strategy and its interest in connecting conventional banking services with emerging financial technologies.

Rohit Garg, Group Head of Retail Products and Chief Digital Officer of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, said the integration supports the bank’s ambition to expand its digital asset capabilities while maintaining regulatory oversight.

“By integrating the CBUAE-registered USDU stablecoin into the Liv ecosystem, we are not only expanding our digital asset capabilities, but also offering our customers a secure, transparent and regulated bridge to digital assets within their everyday banking app,” Garg said.

He added that the partnership builds on the momentum generated by the bank’s 2025 cryptocurrency trading launch.

“Building on the momentum of our crypto trading launch in 2025, this strategic partnership with Universal and Aquanow empowers our customers to participate in the digital asset economy within a trusted, world-class banking environment,” he said.

The CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin integration also complements the bank’s broader efforts to incorporate emerging technologies into its operations, including artificial intelligence and digital financial infrastructure.

Universal’s role as the token issuer and Aquanow’s involvement as the infrastructure provider are central to the arrangement. Their respective regulatory and technical responsibilities are intended to support the movement of digital assets within Liv’s banking environment.

What the CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin integration means for UAE crypto adoption

The arrival of USDU within Liv’s ecosystem could strengthen the position of regulated stablecoins in the UAE’s retail financial market.

By making a CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin accessible through an established digital bank, the arrangement offers customers an alternative to accessing dollar-backed digital assets through independent cryptocurrency exchanges.

The development also highlights the growing role of regulatory compliance in institutional digital asset adoption. Rather than treating stablecoins as a separate cryptocurrency product, Emirates NBD is incorporating USDU into a broader financial services environment supported by banking and licensed digital asset infrastructure.

Liv’s 90-day zero-fee trading promotion could further encourage customers to explore its digital asset services. However, the longer-term impact will depend on customer adoption, the range of supported assets and how the bank develops its cryptocurrency offering beyond the promotional period.

The CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin could also increase competitive pressure on other digital banking platforms operating in the UAE. As established financial institutions introduce cryptocurrency-related services directly into their applications, standalone exchanges may face greater pressure to differentiate themselves through liquidity, asset selection and specialised services.

Ultimately, the CBUAE-Registered Stablecoin initiative illustrates how regulated digital assets are becoming increasingly integrated into conventional banking. Its success will depend not only on regulatory approval but also on transparency, customer confidence and the ability to deliver reliable digital asset services at scale.

As Emirates NBD expands Liv’s capabilities, the partnership with Universal and Aquanow positions the bank among the financial institutions seeking to make regulated digital assets part of everyday banking in the UAE.