Gibraltar and ADI Foundation Partner to Launch Multi-Currency Stablecoin Consortium

His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and ADI Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the creation of a multi-currency stablecoin consortium. This initiative aims to establish regulated digital financial infrastructure that connects international markets, providing a framework for institutional-scale on-chain money and cross-border settlement between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

What was announced

The memorandum of understanding outlines a plan for ADI Foundation to explore the formation of a consortium alongside founding members, which are expected to include banks and other licensed financial institutions based in Gibraltar. The primary objective is the development of fully reserved digital currencies referenced to three major fiat currencies: sterling (GBP), the US dollar (USD), and the Euro (EUR). The underlying issuance infrastructure for these assets would be provided through ADI Chain, which is positioned as the first sovereign digital infrastructure built specifically for governments and institutions in the GCC and MENA regions.

The project focuses on bringing digital money on-chain at an institutional scale, utilizing Gibraltar’s existing regulatory environment. Gibraltar was the first jurisdiction to introduce a purpose-built regulatory framework for distributed ledger technology (DLT) in 2018. Under the proposed structure, each digital currency would be issued through a separate entity. These entities would maintain reserves on a one-for-one basis in high-quality liquid assets denominated in the respective reference currency. To ensure transparency and security, these reserves are intended to be independently attested and subject to annual audits.

Beyond the issuance of stablecoins, the project is designed to facilitate institutional settlement, international trade, and cross-border payments. A key geographic focus is the creation of a digital bridge connecting European and African markets. This aligns with ADI Foundation’s existing joint venture with the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to develop digital trade infrastructure across member states.

"This is bigger than launching another stablecoin. Our ambition is to explore building a regulated financial infrastructure that allows digital money to move seamlessly between institutions, markets and economies. Gibraltar brings a sophisticated financial ecosystem and pioneering experience in DLT, while ADI brings the infrastructure and international network. Together, we are exploring building the foundations for a new digital settlement bridge connecting Europe, the Middle East and Africa."

Ajay Bhatia, Principal Council Member at ADI Foundation

The companies involved

ADI Foundation is a digital infrastructure provider focused on the development of sovereign blockchain solutions for governments and large-scale institutions. The organization operates ADI Chain, which serves as a foundational layer for digital finance in the Middle East and North Africa. ADI has established a significant presence in the emerging digital trade sector through its partnership with the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aiming to digitize trade infrastructure across the continent.

The Government of Gibraltar, represented in this agreement by Gibraltar Finance, has long positioned the territory as a hub for digital asset innovation. Since the introduction of its DLT Provider Regulations in 2018, the jurisdiction has expanded its legislative reach to include a bespoke prediction market regime and legislation for tokenised fund shares and DLT-based share registers. These efforts are led by the Ministry for Justice, Trade and Industry, which oversees the territory's strategy for attracting investment in the digital economy and strengthening its position as an international centre for regulated financial services.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed the expansion of ADI Foundation’s infrastructure and its growing network of strategic partnerships. In July 2026, we reported that ADI Chain Secures $50M Strategic Investment to Scale Sovereign Blockchain Infrastructure, a move that bolstered its capacity for institutional deployments. This was followed by news of consumer-facing hardware integrations, as ADI Chain and Tangem Debut Co-Branded Hardware Wallets at Virgin Megastores UAE.

The foundation’s reach into institutional finance was further evidenced when ZIGChain Secures Strategic Investment from Nomura’s Laser Digital for Institutional Onchain Finance. Most recently, in October 2026, the organization expanded its global connectivity through a major collaboration, as reported in Visa and ADI Foundation Partner to Bridge Blockchain and Global Payment Networks.

What this means

This move signals a shift in the stablecoin market away from retail-focused, often offshore assets toward institutional-grade, "sovereign" infrastructure. By involving licensed banks as founding members, the consortium aims to solve the trust and liquidity issues that have historically hindered the adoption of on-chain settlement by traditional finance. The focus on a "bridge" between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa suggests that the real competition in the sector is no longer just about the technology, but about which jurisdiction can provide the most robust legal certainty for cross-border trade. This puts pressure on traditional correspondent banking networks and forces other financial hubs to accelerate their own digital currency frameworks or risk being bypassed by these new institutional corridors.