Flowdesk digital asset liquidity firm to set up office in UAE after raising $102 million

Flowdesk digital asset liquidity firm to set up office in UAE after raising $102 million

With offices in the United States, Singapore and France Flowdesk, a full-service crypto trading and technology firm, is seeking to set up an office in UAE as part of its MENA expansion plans after closing its $102m financing round. Flowdesk received as well further equity support from existing shareholders and HV Capital as well as debt from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. 

Since its launch in 2020, Flowdesk is a strong liquidity provider in the crypto industry, notably through its Market-Making as a Service offering, serving spot and derivatives markets across over 140 centralized and decentralized exchanges. The company is dedicated to engineering trading technology and liquidity solutions tailored to the needs of a digitally native economy.

Following its global expansion in 2023, the company’s revenues grew by 8x in 2024. The extension will bolster ease of access to digital asset liquidity for ETFs and OTC trading solutions through a single point of contact.

‟Guilhem and the entire Flowdesk team have done a tremendous job in creating a hyper-growing, profitable, FinTech powerhouse within the vastly expanding digital asset space. Offering their clients the relevant infrastructure while complementarily adding OTC products and proprietary trading is incredibly smart. We are proud to have partnered with such a capable, experienced and smart founder and management team and strongly believe in Flowdesk as global FinTech Champion”, said Alexander Joel-Carbonell, Partner at HV Capital. 

Flowdesk has strong expansion plans

Flowdesk has ambitious growth plans for 2025. The funds will be used to scale its OTC derivatives business and launch a dedicated crypto credit desk, broadening its services to meet the evolving needs of the digital asset market.

The company will also invest heavily in its proprietary trading infrastructure and double its headcount, reinforcing its position as a leading liquidity provider and OTC trading firm while accelerating its global expansion.

The company also intends to invest significantly in compliance and legal to support the maturing guidelines from regulators, notably in anticipation of MICA. Finally, the company is set to open additional offices, notably considering UAE as its next outpost in the Middle East.

‟Our mission is to build institutional-grade trading solutions for the digital asset ecosystem. We are grateful to have partners and our existing investors backing our ambitious growth plans”, said Guilhem Chaumont, Global CEO of Flowdesk. ‟Tokenization has the potential to transform capital markets on a global scale. This partnership will allow us to continue pursuing our quest to make digital assets accessible to a wider range of institutionalized counterparties.” 

In 2024, Flowdesk served as a Liquidity Provider for various BTC ETF issuers. Today, all BTC ETF funds hold more than $115 billion worth of the cryptocurrency, according to FactSet. ‟Digital asset ETFs mark a pivotal moment in the evolution of crypto,” said Reed Werbitt, US CEO And Chief Revenue Officer of Flowdesk. ‟These ETFs send a strong signal to institutional investors that digital assets are maturing, paving the way for substantial capital inflows from hedge funds, pension funds, and endowments. We look forward to partnering with institutions entering the space through ETFs or any instruments.”

HODL Blockchain summit to bring 5000 Web3 innovators and investors

HODL Blockchain summit to bring 5000 Web3 innovators and investors

Trescon’s flagship event, HODL 2025 (formerly World Blockchain Summit), the world’s longest-running crypto and web3 summit series, is set to return to Dubai at the Madinat Jumeirah, on 14-15 May, 2025 bringing together 5,000 Web3 innovators and investors.

The event will showcase cutting-edge advancements in blockchain, crypto, DeFi, and digital assets, offering unparalleled networking and business opportunities in one of the world’s most forward-thinking tech hubs. HODL 2025 will host leading blockchain pioneers, crypto innovators, top-tier investors, and government representatives, making it the most anticipated Web3 business conference in the region. Designed to facilitate serious deal-making, strategic partnerships, and high-value networking, HODL is where ground-breaking ideas meet real-world implementation.

With its focus on institutional blockchain adoption, investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and next-generation DeFi models, HODL has built a reputation as the go-to event for C-suite executives, venture capitalists, and blockchain innovators seeking tangible business outcomes.

Speaking on the significance of HODL, Mohammed Saleem, Chairman and Founder of Trescon, emphasised: “HODL 2025 will be the ultimate convergence of blockchain leaders, investors, and innovators, setting the stage for breakthrough ideas and partnerships that will shape the future of Web3. This is where the next generation of blockchain businesses will be built.”

Adding to this, Corbin Fraser, CEO of Bitcoin.com and a speaker at the Summit, highlighted Web3’s role in driving innovation and advancing the crypto economy, “Builders are breakwaters, turning volatility into crypto stability.”

Joining Corbin Fraser at the summit, the distinguished lineup of speakers includes:

Roger Bayston, Executive Vice President Head of Digital Assets, Franklin Templeton

Viktor Fischer, Managing Partner, RockawayX

Jigar Patel, Global Head of FinTech & Internet, Morgan Stanley

Katherine Dowling, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Bitwise Asset Management

Gracy Chen, CEO, Bitget

Jason Allegrante, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Fireblocks

Sumit Gupta, CEO, COINDCX

Teddy Liu, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, JINGDONG Coinlink Technology Hong Kong Limited

Vijay Tirathrai, Managing Director & Regional Head of MENAPT, TechstarsRonit Ghose, Global Head – Future of Finance, Citi Global Insights

Backed by industry leaders, HODL 2025 is set to drive the future of Web3 and blockchain innovation. The event is proudly supported by leading sponsors, including Gofaizen & Sherle (Gold Sponsor), Sky Gate Network, and FMCPAY (Bronze Sponsors).

Unchained Summit to bring together Key Web3 decision makers

Unchained Summit to bring together Key Web3 decision makers

Dubai is set to host Unchained Summit 2025, a highly curated gathering of leaders and innovators in Web 3. Scheduled for April 28 – 29, 2025, at Kempinski Central Avenue, the summit will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions and meaningful connections, bringing together key voices influencing the evolution of Web 3.0 globally.

Dubai has established itself as a hub for Web 3.0, driven by a proactive regulatory framework and a growing ecosystem of innovators. With clear policies supporting blockchain development and oversight from entities like the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), the city has become a key destination for Web 3.0 companies looking to scale globally.

Unlike large-scale conferences that prioritize hype, Unchained Summit is designed for high-value, strategic networking. It brings together key decision-makers and curated investor-startup connections, ensuring that emerging Web 3.0 projects engage directly with leading VCs actively seeking new ventures.

Beyond networking, the summit features high-impact discussions on institutional adoption, regulation, blockchain infrastructure, payments, and scaling. Investors gain direct access to promising startups, while builders and innovators connect with industry leaders who understand blockchain’s complexities and are ready to explore solutions that drive real progress.

A Powerhouse Speaker Lineup:

The summit will showcase an impressive lineup of speakers, including:

  • Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder, CertiK
  • Sreeram Kannan, Founder & CEO, EigenLayer
  • Luca Schnetzler, CEO, Pudgy Penguins
  • Katherine Dowling, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Bitwise Asset Management
  • Greg Scanlon, VP, Franklin Templeton Digital Assets
  • Yat Siu, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Animoca Brands, and many more.

Unchained Summit will also see participation from major industry players such as Bitwise Asset Management, Franklin Templeton, PayPal, and CertiK, alongside some of the most prominent investors in Web 3.0. Leading venture capital firms, including Fenbushi Capital, Hypersphere Ventures, Lemniscap, and Big Brain Holdings, will be in attendance, actively scouting for high-potential projects and investment opportunities.

Talking about enhancing security protocols in a dynamic landscape, Ronghui Gu, said, “In the fast-evolving blockchain space, security protocols must continuously adapt to emerging threats. Recent incidents, such as the Bybit exploit, underscore the urgent need for proactive risk management. CertiK’s approach — combining continuous monitoring, real-time threat analytics, and rigorous smart contract audits — ensures vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated before they can be exploited. This commitment to dynamic security sets an industry benchmark and offers an interesting topic for discussion at Unchained Summit.”

Sharath Kumar, CEO of Aeternum, organizer of Unchained Summit, emphasized: “April is a buzzing month for Web 3.0, with Dubai hosting numerous events. However, the sheer volume often dilutes quality and impact. At Aeternum, we are committed to standing out by curating an event that connects high-potential startups with serious investors. Unchained Summit prioritizes funding opportunities for new projects, bringing together the region’s most influential VCs, institutional investors, and policymakers. By combining strategic networking with high-impact content, we ensure that founders meet the right backers to accelerate growth and drive real innovation in Web 3.0.”

Tickets to the event are available on the official website: unchainedsummit.com

SettleMint Blockchain pilots private share tokenization of QFC

SettleMint Blockchain pilots private share tokenization of QFC

SettleMint, a blockchain company that enables enterprises to easily and rapidly build and integrate blockchain applications, which was accepted into the Qatar Financial Center (QFC) Digital Assets Lab, has successfully piloted the tokenization of private shares of QFC.

In a LinkedIn post, Henk Jan Hoogendoorn, Chief of Financial Services Sector at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority, stated, ” Thank you Matthew Van Niekerk and team for the successful pilot of the private share tokenization of QFC. We call upon the Financial Sector to find more use cases tokenization in Qatar.”

In November 2023, Henk had noted that QFC and SettleMint would be tokenizing the private shares and equity for companies in Qatar. He had stated at the time, “ Next steps on tokenization of private shares / Private Equity discussed with our digital asset lab partner SettleMint both for Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority and any investment manager that would that would like to tokenize or fractionalize investments.”

In April 2023, Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) signed its second Blockchain MOU with Settlemint, after signing its first with R3. The agreement with Settlemint aimed to work on Blockchain and digital asset initiatives in the financial sector. QFCA and Settlemint agreed to explore potential synergies with industry participants, including financial institutions, fintech firms, and corporate organizations, to accelerate the adoption of blockchain and digital asset business models and solutions.

QFC ( Qatar Financial Center) also played an instrumental role in the recent collaboration and partnership of two DLT entities, The Hashgraph Group, a Swiss-based international business, venture capital and technology company, and SettleMint a blockchain transformation company. The partnership seeks to accelerate the impact of DLT ( Distributed Ledger Technologies) and digital assets across several industries.