What happens when you mix crypto, law, AI, and a million-dollar Maybach?
You get Episode 1 of the Mr. M Podcast – shot on the move in Dubai with Irina Heaver, the UAE’s most sought-after crypto lawyer. This conversation is a real-world playbook for Crypto Founders Moving to Dubai and anyone eyeing the region’s hyper-practical approach to Web3, VASP licensing, and compliant growth.
Why Dubai, why now?
We unpack why Crypto Founders Moving to Dubai are choosing the UAE over other hubs: clear UAE crypto regulations, predictable paths to a VASP license under VARA in Dubai, strong institutions in ADGM and DIFC, bankability improving month by month, and direct access to MENA and global capital. If you’ve been searching how to open a crypto company in Dubai or how to launch a token in the UAE, this episode gives you the founder view plus the legal checkpoints to clear.
We go step by step on setting up the right structure in UAE free zones, mapping activities to the correct supervisor (VARA, SCA, CBUAE, ADGM, or DIFC), preparing regulator-ready documentation, and avoiding the common traps that slow teams down – marketing before approvals, weak AML programs, or misclassifying tokens.
For Crypto Founders Moving to Dubai, we also cover practical extras: Golden Visa pathways, corporate banking readiness, and UAE crypto tax basics, so your market entry is smooth from week one.
AI meets blockchain: we explore how AI-powered agents will transform exchange operations, KYC, and risk monitoring, and why on-chain proofs plus AI inference deliver better audit trails for regulators. On stablecoins, we dive into why dirham and major fiat stablecoins are central to the UAE banking vision, what the Central Bank (CBUAE) expects, and how that unlocks compliant on-chain payments at scale.
RWA tokenization gets special attention – real estate, private credit, commodities – along with custody, disclosures, and secondary trading that meet UAE standards. We translate headlines into a clear execution map for founders, investors, and platforms.
Key topics we cover:
🇦🇪 Why Dubai is the place to be for crypto founders & VCs
🇦🇪 How to set up your crypto business the right way (and avoid costly mistakes)
🇦🇪 The future of AI & blockchain – will AI-powered agents run businesses for us?
🇦🇪 Why stablecoins are the next big thing in the UAE banking system
🇦🇪 How banks & regulations are adapting to crypto and what’s coming next
“If you position yourself right, the UAE can be the best place to build. But if you cut corners, it can be a nightmare.”
– Irina Heaver
Fasten your seatbelts. If you’re serious about building in the Gulf, this is your field guide for Crypto Founders Moving to Dubai – packed with actionable steps, not hype.
Watch the episode, take notes and turn insight into execution.

