Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 29 July 2025 – In a landmark move to enhance trust and transparency in the digital finance space, DARA (Digital Asset Rating Agency) was officially launched today in Malaysia as the country’s first institution dedicated to evaluating the sustainability, ethics, and integrity of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based assets.
The launch event, held at M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur, was officiated by Yang Berhormat Dato Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib, Deputy Minister of Economy, and attended by regulators, institutional investors, fintech leaders, and blockchain stakeholders.
“The launch of DARA marks a significant step forward for Malaysia’s digital finance ecosystem. As we continue to strengthen our role in sustainable and Islamic finance, platforms like DARA help position Malaysia as a leader in the digital economy."
At its core, DARA delivers institutional-grade intelligence, certification, and analytics to ensure that digital assets are regulatory-compliant, ESG-assured, and ready for institutional adoption. Its proprietary ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) assurance framework transforms digital tokens into investable, transparent, and trustworthy instruments embraced by sovereign funds, asset managers, and policymakers.
As part of today’s launch, DARA unveiled iDARA, its Shariah-compliant division designed to integrate Islamic finance principles into the digital asset ecosystem. iDARA bridges traditional Islamic finance
with Web3 by embedding Shariah governance directly into blockchain infrastructure.
Aligned with global ESG standards, iDARA provides a trusted framework for certifying digital assets such as stablecoins, sukuk, and tokenized instruments. Backed by a dedicated Shariah Council, it enables faith-aligned participation in the digital economy while expanding DARA’s ESG assurance framework to include Shariah compliance as a core pillar.
Digital assets are redefining global finance but without trust, adoption stalls. DARA was built to close that trust gap. Through ESG-certified ratings, Shariah compliance via iDARA, and next-generation transparency tools, we empower regulators and institutions to engage confidently in the digital future.
DARA’s ambitions go beyond Malaysia. Incorporated in Switzerland, DARA connects ESG-assured digital finance with institutions, asset managers, and regulators worldwide. With deep expertise in sovereign wealth and institutional investment experience, DARA is well-positioned as a global thought leader in value-based investment and digital assets. DARA speaks the language of both regulators and capital markets, offering the tools needed to engage safely with the evolving decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.
The launch featured a high-level panel discussion titled “Trust in Transition: Setting Standards for Stablecoins and Digital Assets with ESG Assurance and Shariah Compliance”, which explored the convergence of sustainability, Islamic finance, and blockchain.
Panelists included:
● Mr. Wallace Yu, President of DARA
● Prof. Anella Munro, Professor of Economics, Asia School of Business
● Mr. Kevin Li, CFO, Country Garden Malaysia & Singapore
● Mr. Eric Poon, President of Aurion Kendall
With the launch of DARA and iDARA, Malaysia positions itself as a global innovation hub for trustworthy digital finance. DARA invites regulators, companies, and investors to partner, request ratings, and explore how digital assets with ESG assurance can define the next chapter of finance.
About DARA
DARA (Digital Asset Rating Agency) is a next-generation ratings and intelligence agency incorporated in Switzerland. It provides ESG, Shariah, and volatility assurance for digital assets using proprietary AI-backed frameworks and institutional oversight. DARA enables regulators, sovereign funds, and asset managers to evaluate, certify, and invest in digital assets with confidence. Through its Shariah-compliant arm iDARA, it sets new global benchmarks for Islamic digital finance. DARA is committed to building a safer, more inclusive, and values-aligned digital asset ecosystem. DARA is part of the Aurion Group, a strategic orchestrator of AI-powered financial intelligence ecosystems.
About Aurion Group
Aurion Group is an innovation leader developing an AI-powered financial intelligence ecosystem. Through a network of specialized companies, it addresses key pillars of the digital economy – finance, governance, identity, and trust. From AI-driven decision tools to ESG-optimized systems and decentralized identity solutions, Aurion Group is laying the groundwork for a secure, sustainable global financial future.
