MENA News
Discover the latest blockchain and crypto news from the MENA region, including updates from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, covering trends, regulations, and developments shaping the industry
A cryptocurrency company linked to former President Donald Trump’s family has raised $220 million in fresh funding to expand its Bitcoin mining operations. According to a filing made Monday, the firm—called American Bitcoin—secured the investment by selling new shares to private investors. Bloomberg reported that roughly $10 million of the investment was paid in Bitcoin instead of cash. The venture has drawn significant attention in part because of Eric Trump’s endorsement.…
Read More »Miriam Kiwan, who led Circle’s Middle East and Africa (MEA) expansion for over two and a half years, has announced her departure as the company celebrates its historic listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Her exit marks the end of a transformative chapter for both her and Circle, which became the first stablecoin issuer to go public. In her farewell note, Miriam Kiwan reflected on her mission to establish…
Read More »As the global crypto industry consolidates and institutional demand climbs, two major players, Zodia Custody and Figment, are doubling down on the Middle East, which once again, shows that the UAE is emerging as a vital hub for regulated digital asset infrastructure. Zodia Custody, a digital asset custodian backed by Standard Chartered, Northern Trust, Emirates NBD, and other major institutions, has officially acquired Tungsten Custody Solutions, a UAE-based custodian regulated…
Read More »XBTO, a global leader in institutional digital asset management, has announced a landmark partnership with Arab Bank Switzerland to launch a sophisticated Bitcoin yield product for wealth management clients. The product, powered by XBTO’s proprietary “Diamond Hands” strategy, enables high-net-worth clients to generate yield on their Bitcoin holdings through actively managed options-based strategies. But the firm’s ambitions don’t stop in Switzerland. In a shared statement with Unlock Blockchain, Karl Naim,…
Read More »Turkey is preparing to tighten its regulations on cryptocurrency transactions in a bid to combat money laundering and financial crime, according to a report from the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA). Under the new proposals, crypto platforms will be required to collect detailed information about the origin and purpose of every transaction. Users must include a transaction description of at least 20 characters for each transfer, AA reported on Tuesday. In…
Read More »In a new move toward digital transformation in public transport, Tawasul Transport, in partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank) and under the supervision of the Integrated Transport Center (ITC), has introduced the world’s first stablecoin-based taxi payment system in Abu Dhabi. Starting this week, passengers can pay for their rides in Tawasul taxis using AE Coin, a UAE dirham–pegged digital currency, via the AEC Wallet app. The initiative positions…
Read More »Zand, a UAE-based AI-powered fintech and financial services group, has been awarded an investment grade credit rating of BBB+ by Fitch Ratings, accompanied by a stable outlook. Michael Chan, CEO of Zand, expressed pride in the achievement, noting that Zand is likely the world’s youngest bank to earn such a rating. Since receiving its full banking license three years ago, the start-up has demonstrated rapid growth and financial resilience, reaching…
Read More »As a survivor of a few crypto cycles, I’ve become almost immune to the price swings of digital assets. I’ve farmed airdrops, hunted NFT whitelists, chased DeFi yields, and (yes) even aped into memecoins. Most of it didn’t pay off, but it gave me a crash course in the industry’s mechanics. What I’ve learned is that crypto markets have historically been driven by liquidity cycles, starting with institutions and eventually…
Read More »The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has announced the launch of the next phase of its Tokenisation Regulatory Sandbox. This new stage sees the onboarding of selected firms into its Innovation Testing Licence (ITL) programme, a controlled environment where innovative financial products and services can be tested under regulatory supervision. This new development highlights the DFSA’s continued leadership in fostering…
Read More »Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in the capital of the UAE, has announced the appointment of Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi as Chief Executive Officer of its Registration Authority, effective immediately. The appointment highlights ADGM’s commitment to enhancing its leadership team and accelerating the execution of its long-term strategic vision, in line with Abu Dhabi’s broader economic roadmap. Al Blooshi succeeds Hamad Al Mazrouei, who is embarking…
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