Authors & Contributors

Walid is the founder of Unlock Blockchain, the MENA region's leading bilingual platform for blockchain and cryptocurrency news. With over two decades in media and communications, he has become a key voice in shaping the dialogue around digital assets, regulation, and Web3 adoption across the region. Since 2017, Walid has positioned Unlock as both a trusted news source and a strategic platform bridging regulators, global institutions, and local innovators. Widely recognized as one of the region's leading opinion influencers in blockchain and crypto, he is a frequent moderator of high-level panels at major industry events, connecting global perspectives with regional opportunities.

Ola is a seasoned events strategist with over 14 years of experience designing and executing high-profile regional events in economics and finance. She brings extensive expertise in operational management, business development, and partnership growth, driving programs that connect C-level executives and industry leaders. Since joining Unlock in 2024, Ola has focused on expanding the platform's reach and enhancing its physical events, including closed executive roundtables and events. She builds regional and global partnerships that deepen engagement and create new opportunities across the WEB3 ecosystem.

Anna K. is a Senior English Editor at UNLOCK Blockchain, where she explores digital assets, blockchain infrastructure, and the evolving intersection of finance, regulation, and technology, with a focus on the MENA region. Driven by a deep interest in how crypto is reshaping financial systems, she focuses on bringing clarity, context, and nuance to complex blockchain narratives. With a background in translation, copywriting, content writing, and editing, Anna has worked with institutions including the ICC, UNDP, ESCWA, STL, and An-Nahar Newspaper. She combines her editorial and language expertise to shape accessible, high-impact blockchain content.

Chantal Assi is a journalist with experience in economy, politics, and technology reporting for reputable publications in Lebanon. Since 2022, she has focused on Web3 and blockchain, writing news and in-depth articles in Arabic for Unlock Blockchain, translating complex developments into accessible insights for the Middle East audience.

Salma is an academic researcher with 10+ years of expertise in finance, economics, and data analysis. She holds a BA in Finance and an MBA from Notre Dame University - Louaize and have made valuable contributions to research at AUB's Olayan School of Business. As a freelance researcher, she offers expert research services on various business topics. Her expertise spans across research fields, including economics, finance, financial and managerial accounting, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility. She also has keen interest in emerging trends in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, and is currently a Senior Editor and a Content Writer at Unlock Blockchain.

Henzie Healley is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of The Counsel Services and a common law-qualified lawyer based in Dubai. She specializes in corporate law, Web3 and blockchain. Her firm, an ADGM-registered Corporate Service Provider, offers senior legal counsel and corporate services. With extensive startup experience, she has advised Middle Eastern companies from seed funding through IPOs and exits.

Bandar Altunisi is Associate General Counsel at Expo 2030 Riyadh, Founder and CEO of Batvisory, and a board member of the Web3 Alliance of Saudi Arabia. Previously, he served on Outlier Ventures’ Saudi board, advised Zodia Markets, led Binance in Saudi Arabia and its institutional relationships in Dubai, advised the Saudi Royal Court, and worked at White & Case as an associate, summer associate and intern.

Andrea Tinianow serves on the State of Delaware’s Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force and leads Tinianow Consulting. She previously held roles at Blerify, IOV Labs, GBBC, Global Kompass Strategies, Connector Street and Delaware Prosperity Partnership. Earlier, she launched Global Delaware and founded the Delaware Blockchain Initiative, following positions at CSC, Pepper Hamilton and the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Barkha Doshi is Legal Director in Clyde & Co’s Financial Services Regulatory practice in Dubai. A dual-qualified lawyer in England and Wales and India, she specializes in fintech, payments, digital assets and financial regulation. Before joining Clyde & Co, she worked at Pinsent Masons and KARM Legal Consultants, having earlier gained capital markets experience at Khaitan & Co.

José J. Pérez Aguinaga is a cryptography educator, technical architect and Head of Solutions Engineering at Dfns. Based in the UAE, he focuses on enterprise Web3 infrastructure and secure MPC-based wallet architecture for regulated finance. He previously co-founded Tungsten Custody Solutions, later acquired by Zodia Custody. His work spans fintech, decentralized identity, deepfake risks and digital asset security.

Rob previously held senior roles at Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank across capital markets infrastructure, including leading MiFID II research unbundling across Europe.

Samir Safar-Aly is Director of FinTech & Financial Services at PwC Legal Middle East. An England and Wales-qualified solicitor and registered legal adviser in Dubai, he previously served as Financial Regulatory Counsel and MENA FinTech & AI Lead at Baker McKenzie. He advises regulators, sovereign entities, financial institutions, funds and technology firms on financial regulation, digital assets, licensing, financial crime, artificial intelligence governance and fintech policy.

Talal Tabbaa is Co-Founder and CEO of CoinMENA, a digital asset platform regulated in Bahrain and Dubai. He led its growth into a trusted regional crypto brokerage serving retail, corporate and institutional clients. In 2025, Paribu acquired CoinMENA in a deal valued at up to $240 million. Talal focuses on regulated infrastructure connecting traditional finance and digital assets. He serves on the Dubai Chambers Digital Advisory Board and the board of Middle East Payment Services.

Abdulla Al Dhaheri is the CEO of The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabiز He has been closely involved in bringing tier-1 global exchanges and companies to Abu Dhabi, working with regulators and sovereign stakeholders to support the UAE’s digital assets, AI, and tokenization ecosystem. Abdulla previously advised multi-billion-dollar companies on public listings and Web3 adoption, and regularly speaks at international conferences on decentralized technologies.

Alex Ferrer (CTCE, CCPC, KYCP) is Head of Blockchain Forensic Investigations at Crypto Legal. He specializes in digital asset tracing, securities fraud, financial crime prevention and cross-border asset recovery. He has undertaken advanced studies in cyber forensics and counterterrorism at Harvard University, and develops investigative methods for decentralized environments while supporting victims of crypto fraud.

Amir Tabch is Executive Director and CEO of OFZA, a VARA-regulated virtual asset exchange and broker-dealer. With over 20 years of experience in finance, regulation and technology, he leads the development of institutional digital asset infrastructure in the Middle East. His work focuses on the governance and infrastructure needed to integrate stablecoins, tokenization and digital assets safely into the global financial system.

Amna Usman Chaudhry is a financial economist and AI governance expert focused on Autonomous Finance and AI-coordinated financial systems. She authored KYS: Know Your Swarm, a governance framework for multi-agent AI in regulated finance. Her work spans fintech, AI, blockchain and digital assets. A UNESCO Women4EthicalAI Expert and graduate-level lecturer, she serves on boards and advisory councils and has contributed to UN forums on AI governance and digital finance.