UAE regulators have denied claims that cryptocurrency investments can secure a Golden Visa, rejecting TON’s staking proposal offering 10-year residency. Authorities clarified that visas follow approved criteria unrelated to digital assets, urging investors to rely only on official channels.
Dubai: UAE regulators have firmly rejected recent claims that cryptocurrency investments could qualify investors for the country’s highly sought-after Golden Visa program. The clarification came after reports and social media posts circulated over the weekend, promoting a new residency option linked to The Open Network (TON), a blockchain platform associated with messaging app Telegram.
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The controversy began when TON announced what it described as a new pathway to obtain a 10-year UAE Golden Visa. According to promotional materials shared online, applicants could secure the visa by staking $100,000 worth of Toncoin for three years and paying an additional $35,000 processing fee. The offer also promised quick processing within seven weeks and coverage for immediate family members, including spouses, children, and parents.
This announcement quickly caught the attention of the crypto community, leading to a brief surge in Toncoin’s price of over 10%, trading at nearly $2.98 before settling.
However, questions soon arose over the program’s authenticity. Many investors and industry leaders voiced concerns about the lack of any official government confirmation.
In response, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) published a unified statement from three key UAE regulatory bodies:
All three agencies denied any link between Golden Visa eligibility and investments in digital assets like cryptocurrencies. “Golden Visas are issued according to officially approved frameworks and criteria, which do not include digital currency investors,” the statement clarified.
The regulators also warned the public to be cautious and to rely only on official government channels for information about residency programs, urging investors to steer clear of offers not backed by licensed or regulated providers.
Another key point highlighted by the regulators was that TON itself is not a licensed or regulated entity within the UAE. While the staking proposal claimed to have UAE-based processing partners, the country’s regulatory bodies stated they had no affiliation with the program.
They also reminded the public that although the UAE has developed dedicated regulations for digital assets, these rules are entirely separate from visa and immigration policies.
The announcement sparked significant skepticism across the crypto sector. Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao took to X (formerly Twitter), questioning the staking-for-visa claim. “Is this real? I like to trust but verify,” CZ wrote, noting the lack of official confirmation from UAE authorities.
Even as some figures in the TON community, including TON Foundation CEO Max Crown, insisted the offer was genuine, the absence of government support made many doubt its legitimacy.
The UAE introduced the Golden Visa program to attract and retain talented individuals, entrepreneurs, and investors by offering long-term residency. However, the eligibility criteria remain unchanged and include categories such as:
At present, cryptocurrency holdings, staking, or any form of digital asset investment are not recognized pathways for securing the Golden Visa.
Over recent years, the UAE has made major strides to become a global center for blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenized assets. The country has launched specialized crypto zones and approved multiple crypto exchanges, demonstrating its commitment to innovation.
However, officials stress that this openness to blockchain innovation should not be mistaken for relaxed immigration rules. The recent denial serves as a reminder of the UAE’s focus on transparency, investor protection, and clear regulations.
The three regulators—VARA, SCA, and ICP—concluded by advising residents and investors to consult only verified government platforms for accurate updates and to avoid engaging with unlicensed or unofficial offers related to visas and residency.
