Ape Law author

Victoria Wells

Principal & Co-Founder

Victoria Wells is Principal and Co-Founder of Ape Law, a UAE-based law firm working with tokenization, crypto and Web3 businesses worldwide. Her work covers real-world assets, token launches, digital-asset licensing, funds and cross-border structures.

Victoria served as Chief Legal Officer at Illuvium while also co-founding Ape Law. She led a VARA application covering exchange, broker-dealer, custody and asset management activities, and helped the DAO secure banking in the UAE.

She previously founded Alt Law in Australia. Her published work includes the first-ever ADGM VC fund manager licence permitting investment into virtual assets, SAFTs, SAFEs and token warrants, alongside token raises, market-entry strategies and urgent restructuring.

Her professional background also includes serving as Vice President of LawFi DAO and membership of LexDAO and the MENA Fintech Association.

Areas of focus

RWA tokenization
Token launches
Digital-asset licensing
Crypto fund structures
Cross-border legal strategy
Founder disputes

Experience

Principal & Co-Founder of Ape Law
Former Chief Legal Officer at Illuvium
Founder of Alt Law in Australia
Founding partner of Project Get Out
Tokenization, licensing and cross-border legal work
Vice President of LawFi DAO
Membership of LexDAO and the MENA Fintech Association

Verified profiles

Published work

Latest from Victoria.

Founder facing a panel of lawyers in a dark digital boardroom.

Legal Teams & Advice

Should you hire in-house counsel or fractional GC for your crypto firm?

Compare continuity, specialist coverage, cost and responsibility before choosing in-house counsel, fractional GC or a mixed team.

Victoria Wells1 September 20262 min read

Physical asset connected to digital tokens in a UAE structure.

Tokenization & Real-World Assets

How Should You Structure RWA Tokenization in the UAE?

Start RWA tokenization with enforceable asset rights, issuer and platform roles, custody, transfers and regulatory classification—not the token standard.

Victoria Wells30 August 20263 min read

ADGM holding structure diagram for a crypto and tokenization project.

Structuring & Market Entry

Should You Use an ADGM SPV for a Crypto Project?

Use an ADGM SPV for a defined passive holding role—not as a substitute for operating permissions, token-offer analysis or group-level due diligence.

Victoria Wells28 August 20263 min read

Dubai office display representing VARA licence costs and planning.

Licensing

What Will Your VARA Licence Really Cost in Dubai?

A current, activity-based guide to VARA application and supervision fees, regulatory capital and the compliance costs a Dubai VASP should budget before filing.

Victoria Wells19 August 20263 min read

Man opening a secure bank vault with a glowing digital token.

Funds, Finance & Transactions

What will you need for a UAE crypto business bank account?

Prepare ownership, source-of-funds, activity and licence evidence; separate VARA’s capital rule from each bank’s onboarding policy.

Victoria Wells3 August 20262 min read

Man viewing a tokenized fund inside a secure glass vault.

Funds, Finance & Transactions

What will a custodian check for your tokenized fund?

Separate regulator custody duties from a custodian’s own due diligence on title, segregation, keys, records and redemption.

Victoria Wells1 August 20262 min read

Decentralized finance network representing UAE legal risk analysis.

Regulation & Compliance

Which UAE Legal Risks Apply to Your DeFi Protocol?

A control-and-activity framework for assessing DeFi licensing, governance, custody, AML/CFT and cross-border risk in the UAE.

Victoria Wells9 March 20263 min read

Licensing

Which UAE Crypto Licence Fits Your Business?

Compare VARA, ADGM, DIFC, DMCC and federal UAE routes by activity, location, customers and asset control before choosing an entity or licence.

Victoria Wells11 February 20264 min read

Illuminated pillars labelled VARA, ADGM and CBUAE against the Dubai skyline.

Licensing

What could your UAE stablecoin licence actually cost?

Compare published regulator fees with capital and reserve rules; do not treat a single fee as a complete UAE stablecoin budget.

Victoria Wells19 January 20263 min read

Stable-value digital token representing UAE stablecoin compliance.

Tokenization & Real-World Assets

Which UAE Rules Apply to Your Stablecoin?

A practical stablecoin classification and readiness checklist covering payment tokens, issuance, reserves, redemption, distribution and compliance in the UAE.

Victoria Wells18 January 20263 min read

Digital security document representing ADGM disclosure requirements.

Tokenization & Real-World Assets

Which ADGM Rules Apply to Your Tokenized Security?

A rights-and-activity framework for ADGM tokenized securities covering classification, issuer disclosures, offers, venues, custody and ongoing controls.

Victoria Wells5 January 20263 min read

Dubai property represented through a structured digital token.

Tokenization & Real-World Assets

How Should You Tokenize Real Estate Under VARA?

A rights-first checklist for Dubai real-estate tokenization covering property title, issuer and platform roles, token rights, VARA analysis and investor controls.

Victoria Wells5 November 20253 min read

Dubai skyline illuminated in purple for a DAO structure guide.

Structuring & Market Entry

How can you structure your DAO in the UAE?

Compare ADGM DLT foundations and RAK DAO associations, then check regulated activity, control, tax and token rights separately.

Victoria Wells30 September 20252 min read

DIFC financial district representing crypto licence costs.

Licensing

What Will Your DIFC Crypto Licence Really Cost?

Plan the cost of a DIFC crypto business across DFSA permissions, token-related requirements, capital, entity setup, staffing and operating controls.

Victoria Wells7 July 20253 min read

Startup team collaborating around a whiteboard in a bright office.

Structuring & Market Entry

What is a DIFC Foundation + How to Set Up DIFC Foundations?

Discover DIFC Foundations for asset protection, succession planning, and tax-neutral wealth management. Complete setup guide for this versatile legal structure.

Victoria Wells6 July 202511 min read

Digital token launching above a UAE city skyline.

Tokenization & Real-World Assets

How Should You Launch a Token in the UAE?

A classification-first UAE token launch plan covering holder rights, issuer and service-provider roles, jurisdiction, distribution, documents and controls.

Victoria Wells5 July 20253 min read

Abu Dhabi skyline representing ADGM financial licence categories.

Licensing

Which ADGM Licence Category Fits Your Crypto Business?

Map an ADGM crypto business to its actual regulated activities, prudential category, permissions and operating requirements before choosing an entity or application route.

Victoria Wells29 June 20253 min read

Dubai business district representing a DMCC crypto company setup.

Licensing

Which DMCC Crypto Licence Fits Your Business?

A practical guide to DMCC crypto and Web3 activities, the boundary with VARA authorisation, setup costs and the questions to resolve before incorporation.

Victoria Wells25 March 20254 min read

Disputes & Asset Recovery

Chainflip vs. THORChain: One Blocked Billions in Laundered Funds, The Other Profited From It

Chainflip blocked $1.5B in laundered ByBit hack funds while THORChain profited from it. Compare their responses and learn DeFi protocol responsibilities.

Victoria Wells7 March 20257 min read

Disputes & Asset Recovery

Bybit Hack: Crisis Response, Lessons for Founders and Industry Takeaways

ByBit hack: $1.5B stolen by North Korea's Lazarus Group. Crisis response lessons for founders covering communications, security, and capital reserves.

Victoria Wells4 March 202511 min read

Graphic reading ‘CBDCs Killed by Trump Order’ with a gravestone icon.

Regulation & Compliance

US CBDC Projects In Memoriam

Trump's Executive Order terminates US CBDC projects. Explore OpenCBDC, Project Cedar, Project Agorá and other initiatives affected by the 2025 ban.

Victoria Wells3 February 20253 min read

Graphic reading ‘Crypto Policy Shift: Trump Admin’ with Donald Trump holding an order.

Regulation & Compliance

Trump’s Executive Order Will Shake Up Crypto Regulation Globally

Trump's crypto Executive Order reshapes global regulation, legalizes digital assets, bans CBDCs, and promotes USD stablecoins worldwide. Game-changer.

Victoria Wells2 February 20257 min read

Graphic reading ‘UAE’s Token Law Covers Securities’ with a currency illustration.

Tokenization & Real-World Assets

UAE’s New Token Laws: New Rules for Tokenised Securities and Commodities

UAE's SCA Directive introduces new regulations for tokenized securities and commodities. Essential insights for VASPs, exchanges, and token issuers.

Victoria Wells26 January 202511 min read

Funds, Finance & Transactions

HyperLiquid: The DeFi Powerhouse Redefining Onchain Trading & More

Hyperliquid's L1 blockchain and DEX revolutionize DeFi with onchain order books, community-first ethos, and HYPE token's stellar performance explained.

Victoria Wells17 December 202410 min read

Graphic reading ‘Trump Pro Crypto: Is this the final boss?’.

Regulation & Compliance

Crypto's New Dawn: How Trump's Pro-Crypto Era is going to be a game changer

Trump's pro-crypto administration signals a new era. Legal framework coming July 2025. David Sacks appointed crypto czar. Game on for crypto businesses.

Victoria Wells13 December 20244 min read

Graphic asking whether to leave after the ASIC INFO 225 update.

Regulation & Compliance

Build an Ark? INFO 225 Receives a Facelift. Is It Time to Leave?

ASIC updates INFO 225 for crypto regulation. New guidance on digital assets, financial products, stablecoins, and exchange licensing requirements.

Victoria Wells4 December 20248 min read

Funds, Finance & Transactions

Nike’s M&A fumble - RTFKT is no more

Nike shuts down RTFKT after $1B acquisition. Lessons from the NFT pioneer's closure for web3 M&A deals and corporate integration strategies.

Victoria Wells4 December 20246 min read