Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The ADI Foundation, an Abu Dhabi-based non-profit organisation, has announced the launch of the public testnet of ADI Chain, an EVM Layer-2 blockchain designed to power a UAE Dirham-backed stablecoin and provide infrastructure for digital services across finance, healthcare, identity, and sustainability.
An EVM L2 blockchain refers to a network built on top of Ethereum that can run Ethereum-compatible applications (thanks to the Ethereum Virtual Machine, or EVM) but with greater speed and lower fees. By settling transactions off the main Ethereum chain and then reporting back, it combines efficiency with the security of the parent blockchain.
According to the foundation, ADI Chain uses AI-assisted protocol automation and GPU acceleration to ensure high throughput with very low transaction costs. In simple terms, artificial intelligence helps the system adapt in real time to changing network conditions, while GPU-powered computing makes it faster and more efficient.
“Launching the testnet is an important step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s vision for trusted, high-performance digital infrastructure,” said Andrey Lazorenko, CEO of ADI Foundation. “With GPU computing and AI-engineered protocol design at its core, ADI Chain will provide enterprise-grade infrastructure… and support our mission in bringing 1 billion new users onchain by 2030”.
The foundation stressed that ADI Chain has been built as a compliance-native blockchain. Many existing chains struggle to meet strict government standards, which prevents rapid adoption by public authorities. By contrast, ADI Chain is designed to allow regulated entities to issue stablecoins, operate health systems, manage land registries, and build payment systems while maintaining compliance without sacrificing efficiency.
The first major use case will be its integration into a Dirham-backed stablecoin, a digital token pegged to the UAE’s national currency, being developed with the support of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), ADQ and International Holding Company (IHC), under regulation by the Central Bank of the UAE. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies tied to the value of traditional currencies, offering stability compared with volatile digital assets.
ADI Foundation has received a mandate to develop a compliant blockchain system for a financial framework driven by dirham-backed stablecoins.
The testnet — essentially a trial version of the blockchain open to developers — is now live. Developers can access it through the ADI Testnet Explorer and are invited to experiment with applications before the eventual full-scale launch on the “mainnet”.
Founded by Sirius International Holding, a subsidiary of IHC, the ADI Foundation positions itself as a driver of sovereign digital economies across emerging markets. It already claims a reach of more than 400 million people and aims to expand this to one billion by 2030 through partnerships in over 20 countries.
