Tether and DMCC sign MoU to explore USDT and tokenization

Tether and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on June 16, 2026. The MoU creates a framework to explore tokenization, USDT peer-to-peer payments, blockchain infrastructure and digital asset education across DMCC’s business network. It contains no financial commitments or set timelines.

The agreement outlines possible collaboration on tokenizing real-world assets, including commodities and trade finance instruments, pilot programs for digital payments using USDT, blockchain advisory sessions and joint events such as hackathons and training run through the DMCC Crypto Centre. Any pilots or commercial projects will require separate planning, approvals and governance steps.

DMCC is a Dubai free zone that hosts more than 26,000 companies from over 180 countries and accounts for about 15% of the emirate’s foreign direct investment. The DMCC Crypto Centre lists between 650 and 750 crypto and Web3 firms, providing a concentrated network for testing digital-asset use cases tied to physical trade and commodity flows through Dubai.

Paolo Ardoino, chief executive of Tether, described the collaboration as aimed at accelerating practical business uses for blockchain technology. “Through our collaboration with DMCC, we aim to accelerate the practical use of blockchain technology in areas such as tokenization and education,” he added.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman and CEO of DMCC, pointed to stablecoin activity and tokenization trends. “Stablecoins are already processing trillions of dollars in transaction value annually, while tokenization is beginning to reshape how real-world assets are financed and transferred across borders,” Bin Sulayem noted.

The MoU follows prior DMCC efforts to link digital assets with commodities markets, including a partnership announced in late 2025 to explore tokenizing commodities and creating gold-backed tokens. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has issued regulatory frameworks intended to support digital-asset activity, a factor cited by the parties as supportive of pilot work. Tether has also expanded institutional and government-level partnerships in the UAE and elsewhere with a focus on payments, settlement and trade finance use cases.

The memorandum is non-binding and discloses no financial terms. Next steps will depend on follow-up execution by Tether and DMCC and approvals from relevant parties and regulators. If pilots proceed, USDT could be trialed for payments and settlement within DMCC trade flows and tokenized instruments may be applied in trade finance transactions.