Crypto payments for everyday necessities are arriving at brick-and-mortar retail outlets in the United Arab Emirates. Starting September 9, 2026, customers at the Marks & Spencer store in Dubai Festival City and LuLu Hypermarket at Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi can pay for their purchases using the DDSC stablecoin. The stable token is pegged 1:1 to the UAE dirham.
The rollout initiative is conducted in partnership with payments infrastructure provider Network International. DDSC is more than just a typical token - it holds an official license from the UAE Central Bank under the Payment Token Services regulation, backed by segregated reserve assets. The stablecoin project was developed through a collaboration among International Holding Company, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Sirius International Holding.
How Does It Work at the Checkout?
Existing cash registers require no replacement. Shoppers simply open a supported digital wallet and scan a QR code displayed on standard point-of-sale (POS) terminals at the checkout counter. Once the transaction is confirmed across the network, merchants have flexible settlement options. They can either receive final settlement in DDSC tokens or have the funds automatically converted into fiat dirhams based on their respective agreements.
The merchant networks involved point to significant potential for widespread adoption. Al-Futtaim Group, the franchise operator for Marks & Spencer, processes tens of millions of customer payments annually across more than 200 brands. Network International also serves over 240,000 merchants and 250 financial institutions across more than 50 countries. An evaluation of the initial pilot phase will determine plans to expand DDSC payment options across merchant networks throughout the United Arab Emirates.
The Infrastructure Behind the Scenes
The DDSC token operates on ADI Chain, an institutional Layer 2 solution launched on mainnet in December 2025. The network’s core focus is facilitating stablecoin transfers and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). DDSC was officially released to the public in February 2026 after receiving written authorization from the UAE Central Bank for daily payments, corporate transaction settlements, and treasury operations.
The ADI Chain Layer 2 platform also extends beyond the retail sector. In August 2026, an entity named Shipfinex leveraged ADI Chain to execute a $500 million commercial vessel tokenization program. The introduction of the DDSC token to supermarket checkouts now tests the underlying blockchain infrastructure’s readiness to handle daily end-consumer transactions.
Reported by crypto.news.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
