Inside VARA: Balancing Innovation and Regulation

​Join Blockchain Ireland and Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) for a fireside chat exploring how VARA is supporting the development of a secure and sustainable future for virtual assets.

​In this session, we’ll cover:

• ​VARA’s origins and philosophy: how Dubai built a regulator from the ground up for virtual assets, and what sets it apart from traditional financial supervisors.

• ​Regulatory framework: VARA’s activity-based approach, compliance expectations for VASPs, and how innovation is balanced with investor protection.

• ​Global positioning: why Dubai is emerging as a virtual asset hub, and how VARA collaborates internationally — including with groups like Blockchain Ireland.

• ​Pilot programmes: how VARA’s pilots work, examples in tokenisation and real-world assets, and what participation looks like.

• ​Ecosystem enablement: the support available to new entrants, from free zones to banking access and talent pipelines.

• ​Future outlook: lessons from licensing 36 VASPs, VARA’s vision for growth, and advice for European firms considering Dubai as a base.

​🎤 Speakers:

• ​Paul Boots – Head of Sector Development, VARA

• ​Ruben Bombardi – General Counsel & Head of Regulatory Enablement, VARA

• ​Pearse Ryan – Lead, Legal & Regulatory Working Group, Blockchain Ireland

​Who should attend: Blockchain founders & operators, compliance/legal executives, fintech scale-ups, policy professionals, and anyone interested in how global regulators are shaping the virtual assets sector.