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Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised boutique hotelier Ovolo Group (“Ovolo”) on a strategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (“Wyndham”) that will see five Ovolo hotels join the Wyndham portfolio, and Wyndham rolling the brand out in Asia Pacific.

Under the agreement, Ovolo retains brand and operational control of the hotels whilst exclusively partnering with Wyndham for distribution and to pursue franchised growth opportunities throughout the Asia Pacific region. The five hotels – one in Hong Kong and four across Australia – will be integrated into Wyndham’s global sales, marketing and distribution platforms, including its 120 million-member Wyndham Rewards loyalty programme.

Hong Kong-based Ovolo is an independent hospitality company known for its innovation and disruption, owning and operating a collection of award-winning and individually designed lifestyle hotels and serviced apartments. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest hotel franchising group by number of hotels, with over 9,200+ hotels in over 95 countries on 6 continents.

The cross-border WFW team that advised Ovolo was led by Sydney Hotels & Hospitality Partner Robert Williams, supported by Sydney Corporate and M&A Consultant Chris Greiner and Singapore Corporate Associate Meryl Tan.

Robert commented: “We are delighted to have supported Ovolo on this innovative and transformative transaction, which reflects the growing appetite for experiential travel and the increasing relevance of lifestyle brands in the global hospitality landscape. This transaction highlights the focus even the biggest global players have on genuine lifestyle brands and platforms, and WFW’s continued commitment to supporting hospitality entrepreneurs and ventures break the mould across the Asia Pacific region and beyond”.

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has released Consultation Paper No. 10 of 2025, introducing a dedicated regulatory framework for the staking of virtual assets. This proposal marks a significant evolution in ADGM’s approach, transitioning from initial recognition of staking to the establishment of a formal regulatory perimeter around such activities. By focusing on staking, the FSRA aims to enhance ADGM’s position as a forward-looking jurisdiction for digital asset innovation, while ensuring robust oversight of emerging virtual asset functions.

In December 2024, the FSRA signalled its intent to regulate staking by raising key questions around the associated risks in its consultation papers. These initial papers concentrated on foundational issues, such as defining operational models for staking businesses. However, they did not address broader regulatory considerations; specifically, the principles that trigger oversight and the obligations placed on authorised persons conducting staking activities.

Consultation Paper No. 10 of 2025 seeks to close these gaps by proposing a set of regulatory triggers and requirements for entities that stake virtual assets on behalf of their clients.

What triggers regulatory oversight?

Under the proposals, regulatory oversight is triggered when staking activities involve accepted virtual assets within the scope of regulated operations. Authorised Persons who hold or control virtual assets for the purpose of staking are required to obtain a Financial Services Permission for either custody or managing assets. Virtual Asset Custodians may only stake client assets upon receiving explicit instructions from the client. If such custodians intend to exercise discretion in staking decisions, they must secure a Financial Services Permission for managing assets. Conversely, Virtual Asset Managers are permitted to stake client virtual assets on a discretionary basis, provided they are responsible for selecting appropriate staking opportunities and ancillary service providers.

Areas outside the scope of the proposal

The proposed framework draws clear boundaries around what falls outside the scope of regulatory oversight. Solo staking remains unregulated, as participants act solely on their own account without any form of intermediation. Service providers that deliver technical infrastructure to support staking are also excluded, provided they do not hold or control virtual assets. Additionally, the regime does not extend to other yield-generating activities such as liquidity mining, yield farming, or the issuance of liquid staking tokens which are also typically referred to as staking. Its focus is strictly limited to arrangements involving participation in blockchain validation under a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

Regulatory obligations

The proposal also sets out a series of regulatory obligations for authorised persons engaging in staking activities involving client virtual assets. These entities must:

1. comply with all existing applicable requirements under Chapter 17 of COBS and AML rules
2. disclose material risks to clients in a clear, fair, and non-misleading manner
3. conduct due diligence on staking service providers and smart contracts
4. enter into written agreements with staking service providers
5. provide client reporting
6. obtain FSRA non-objection

This paper signals a turning point in how staking is treated under regulatory frameworks. It’s a prime opportunity for firms to align early with supervisory expectations and shape compliant, scalable staking models before the market matures.

Who should care?

• VA Custodians
• VA Managers
• Exchanges
• Staking Infrastructure Providers
• DeFi platforms

What to watch and next steps

It is imperative that clients closely review the supporting guidance to be issued by the FSRA on implementation of this proposal, as it will clarify critical nuances in regulatory oversight. In particular, forthcoming guidance on staking-specific disclosures will be essential for ensuring compliance and shaping operational responses. Understanding these details will help entities navigate the framework in the future.

At present, clients should begin by evaluating whether they meet any of the regulatory thresholds outlined in the framework. From a commercial standpoint, firms engaged in or planning to engage in these activities will find new opportunities emerging. However, a clear understanding of their eventual obligations to the FSRA will be essential to ensure full compliance and avoid regulatory pitfalls.

ADGM’s updated regulatory framework signals a broader shift toward functional regulation; focusing on what digital assets do, rather than simply what they are. With the inclusion of specific staking activities under its oversight, the FSRA is reinforcing ADGM’s position as a forward-looking jurisdiction committed to shaping the future of the digital asset ecosystem.

Our team is advising clients across sectors on regulatory compliance, infrastructure, and risks. If you would like to discuss how these proposed reforms could affect your business or how to turn regulatory change into competitive edge please get in touch with Tom Bicknell or Barkha Doshi.