Binance secured its first-ever institutional investment, with Abu Dhabi’s MGX injecting $2 billion into the exchange.
MGX now holds a minority stake in Binance. The investment, made entirely in stablecoins, represents the largest single investment into a cryptocurrency company to date per Binance. It also stands as the biggest investment ever paid using cryptocurrency, showcasing the growing trust in digital assets.
MGX is a technology investment firm based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, focused on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies. The government of Abu Dhabi established MGX in March 2024 to drive innovation, support economic growth, and position the UAE as a global leader in AI.
The firm aims to manage over $100 billion in assets, positioning it as one of the largest investment vehicles for AI and advanced technology globally. Mubadala Investment Company and G42 are MGX’s founding partners.
MGX concentrates its investments in three main areas. First, it focuses on AI infrastructure by building and supporting data centers while enhancing connectivity to empower AI systems. Second, it invests in semiconductors, covering the design and manufacturing of chips essential for AI and other technologies. Lastly, it targets AI core technologies and applications, including AI models, software, robotics, and life sciences, to develop practical solutions that benefit various industries.
The firm collaborates with global technology leaders, such as Microsoft, BlackRock, and NVIDIA, to build a strong network and accelerate AI development. For example, MGX is part of the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, which plans to invest up to $100 billion in AI data centers and energy infrastructure.
Ahmed Yahia, CEO of MGX, said their investment in Binance reflects a commitment to blockchain’s role in digital finance, emphasizing security, compliance, and scalability. Binance CEO Richard Teng called it a milestone for crypto, reinforcing Binance’s focus on compliance, security, and regulation. Teng, formerly CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Authority, has been instrumental in shaping crypto regulations.
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Since early 2025, Binance has gone through eventful times characterized by major developments in operations, governance, regulatory compliance, and market strategies. A significant recent change is the introduction of a community-driven governance system for token listings and delistings.
Under this new model, users holding at least 0.01 Binance Coin (BNB) can vote on token listings, with projects receiving the most votes and passing Binance’s due diligence process being listed for spot trading. In parallel, Binance has taken significant steps to comply with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations, particularly regarding stablecoins.
It announced the delisting of nine non-MiCA-compliant stablecoins, including Tether (USDT), First Digital USD (FDUSD), TrueUSD (TUSD), and others, for customers in the European Economic Area (EEA), where, although users in the EEA can still custody, withdraw, or deposit these stablecoins, trading pairs involving these assets will be discontinued.
Beyond regulatory compliance, Binance has expanded its influence through strategic partnerships such as entering into a collaboration with the Global Fintech Institute (GFI) to develop educational programs, conduct research, and host industry events focused on AI-driven finance and digital assets.
