Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) concluded Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) by positioning the emirate as the definitive “Capital of Green Capital,” mobilising sovereign wealth and regulatory innovation to bridge the gap between digital assets and the net-zero transition .
The final day of the event moved beyond theoretical climate diplomacy, focusing instead on the granular mechanics of capital deployment, regulatory frameworks, and the convergence of institutional credit markets with decentralised finance (DeFi).
Salem Mohammed Al Darei, CEO of ADGM Authority, opened the forum by describing Abu Dhabi as a “centre of gravity” for sustainable finance . He outlined a strategic mandate to direct the emirate’s massive accumulation of sovereign capital toward high-impact solutions, acting as a bridge between the developed markets of the Global North and the high-growth economies of the Global South .
The Convergence of Crypto and Climate
In a move that seeks to resolve the long-standing tension between digital assets and environmental impact, the Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol (SBP) completed the inaugural transaction of a tokenized energy transition asset derived from Bitcoin . Executed on Coinbase Project Diamond within the ADGM RegLab, this pilot allows miners to verify and monetize clean energy use .
Brad Van Voorhees, CEO of SBP, explained that the protocol converts verified clean compute into a tradeable financial instrument, creating a new incentive structure for institutional investors to hold Bitcoin while complying with strict ESG mandates . The transaction involved Zero Two, a digital assets infrastructure company backed by ADQ, signaling sovereign support for utility-driven crypto assets .
Institutional DeFi and Liquidity
Addressing the efficiency of institutional credit markets, SemiLiquid unveiled its Programmable Credit Protocol (PCP) . This infrastructure layer enables institutions to activate credit against digital assets held in custody without transferring the collateral, effectively solving the counterparty risk that has historically frozen the market .
Rico van der Veen, co-founder and CEO of SemiLiquid, described the protocol as the “missing rail” institutions need, merging the trust of traditional finance with the efficiency of programmable assets . The launch follows a pilot involving Franklin Templeton, Zodia Custody, and Avalanche, demonstrating how yield-bearing tokens can be used as collateral while remaining secure in a qualified custodian’s account .
Architecting a New Regulatory Standard
Beneath the commercial announcements, the forum solidified the rules that will govern sustainable finance in the region. The UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) endorsed the new “Principles for Climate Transition Planning” under Workstream Four .
These principles represent a maturation of the market, moving beyond simple carbon measurement to complex transition planning. By providing a standardised handbook for financial institutions, UAE regulators aim to prevent “paper decarbonisation”—where banks simply sell off high-carbon assets rather than helping clients transition—and ensure credibility and transparency in reporting .
Women in Finance: Leaders in Motion
Parallel to the technical discussions, the event highlighted the pivotal role of female leadership in accelerating the green transition. The ‘Women in Finance Forum’ hosted the “Leaders in Motion: Women Driving Financial Innovation” session, positing that diversity is a driver of alpha rather than just a reporting metric .
Linda Fitz-Alan, Registrar and Chief Executive of ADGM Courts, exemplified this leadership. As a member of the Advisory Council of Masdar’s WiSER platform, she continues to champion the integration of gender diversity into the highest institutional structures of the financial centre .
A Coalition of the Willing
The day concluded with a significant expansion of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration, which welcomed new signatories to bring the total count to 180 institutions .
While voluntary, the declaration acts as a powerful signaling mechanism, creating a coalition of banks, asset managers, and insurers publically committed to integrating ESG into their core business models. This critical mass creates a “network effect,” ensuring that major players remain aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 national strategy .