Appointment supports Komainu’s continued growth in the Middle East
15 October, 2026 – Komainu, a regulated digital asset services provider and custodian, backed by Laser Digital and Blockstream, announces the appointment of Edward Marlow as Head of Office, Dubai. The appointment follows Komainu becoming the first firm to receive a licence extension from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to provide Collateral Wallet Services (CWS).
In his new role, Marlow will lead Komainu’s Dubai office, with responsibility for supporting the firm’s continued growth in the market, deepening relationships with institutional clients and strategic partners, and identifying new commercial opportunities. He will work closely with Komainu’s global leadership team as the business continues to expand its regulated digital asset services and institutional infrastructure.
Marlow has worked with Komainu since 2024, when he was appointed Komainu Taishi for Africa under the firm’s ambassador programme, subsequently becoming an Non Executive Director of the UAE Business.
Paul Frost-Smith, Group Managing Director, Komainu, said: “Dubai is an important hub for Komainu and a key part of our ambition to be the institutional gateway for digital assets globally. As institutional participation continues to grow, our focus is on providing the secure, regulated infrastructure and connectivity clients need to access the digital asset ecosystem with confidence. Ed brings deep market knowledge, an extensive institutional network and decades of experience across complex international markets, making him ideally placed to lead our Dubai office through its next phase of growth.”
Edward Marlow, Head of Office, Dubai at Komainu, said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Head of Office in Dubai and to build on the strong foundations Komainu has established here. Dubai has developed a sophisticated ecosystem for digital assets, bringing together regulators, financial institutions, investors and technology businesses. Komainu’s combination of regulated infrastructure, institutional expertise and global connectivity gives us a strong platform from which to support clients in the market, and I look forward to working with the team to develop the business further.”
About Komainu
Komainu is the institutional gateway for digital assets, headquartered in Jersey, with offices in London, Dubai, and Singapore. Offering bank-grade infrastructure for institutional investors, Komainu provides seamless, connected and secure services with multi-jurisdictional regulatory oversight, merging expertise from traditional financial services with leading security standards for the next generation of institutional digital asset custody, servicing & financing.
Komainu (Jersey) Limited is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
Komainu MEA FZE is regulated by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
Information on Komainu’s custodial services and full range of supported assets can be found at: https://komainu.com/ For more information, visit https://www.komainu.com