Dubai has spent years positioning itself as a hub for regulated digital finance. Yet its restrictions on privacy coins such as Monero ( XMR) and Zcash ( ZEC) clarify where the emirate is drawing the line between innovation and compliance. In January 2026, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) prohibited anonymity-focused virtual currencies like Monero and Zcash from use on licensed venues within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Crypto markets continue to struggle on the back of the FOMC meeting this past Wednesday. Fed Chair Powell's comment of no guarantee of cuts in December has had markets reeling, with Bitcoin beginning to recover today, trading above its 200 day SMA at around $110,000 at this time of writing. But Bitcoin's recovery is not as significant as Z-Cash, the crypto story of the moment.