UAE based Cypher Capital has invested in AI and Blockchain startup Space and Time (SxT) as part of the $20 million Series A funding round.

SxT is a verifiable compute layer designed to boost the mainstream adoption of DeFi protocols and smart contracts by combining the power of AI and blockchain.

Space and Time (SxT) Labs raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Framework Ventures. CypherCapital was among several ventures capital firms that included Lightspeed Faction, Arrington Capital, and Hivemind Capital, Microsoft’s M12 Ventures, DCG, F-Prime Capital, OKX ventures, Circle Ventures and Alumni Ventures.

Vineet Budki, Managing Partner, Cypher Capital noted on Linkedin, “ Cypher Capital LLC is excited to be part of the $20M Series A funding round for the Space and Time (SxT) network, a groundbreaking project at this intersection. Among SxT innovations is a comprehensive blockchain indexing system that supports Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC), and Polygon (MATIC) networks. The network also features a robust data warehouse that integrates and analyses both blockchain and off-chain data using SQL-based tools, along with the proof of SQL for scalable, trustless data processing.”

Other standout products include the hashtag#Space and hashtag#Time DB, API Gateway & streaming, Extreme Workloads (HTAP), and a dashboard powered by OpenAI.

To date SxT Labs has secure $50 million in funding to accelerate engineering and product development.

SxT Labs has reportedly spent the last two years building its proof-of-SQL, a zero-knowledge (ZK) circuit that provides smart contract developers and companies with the capability to verify data integrity. In decentralized finance (DeFi), for instance, the solution could be used to verify the credibility of borrowers based on real-time data or to track the performance of assets. 

The startup’s data warehouse allows both indexed blockchain data and centralized databases to be analyzed using SQL queries, thus providing a way to verify the integrity of data and operations on and offchain.

Recently Cypher Capital also participated in investment in Echelon decentralized lending platform.

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), financial and business center has announced that its QFC Digital Assets Lab is now live with the onboarding of 24 participants which include entities such as Polygon and Blade Labs among others. This cohort will benefit from a comprehensive support system for developing, testing and commercializing their digital solutions and services.

As per the press release, the participants will develop transformative solutions tailored to a variety of use cases across different industries. By leveraging blockchain/ distributed ledger technology, these innovators seek to address industry challenges and drive digital transformation in their respective sectors.

Among the 24 successful candidates are ALT Realtech, Bladelabs, Polygon, Taurus, Settlemint and Partior.

To bolster the capabilities of the Digital Assets Lab, QFC has partnered with leading international organizations such as Google Cloud, Masraf Al Rayan, The Hashgraph Association, and R3. According to QFC, these strategic partners will offer subject matter expertise, providing participants with valuable knowledge and industry insights. The full list of partners and participants is available on the QFC website

The Digital Assets Lab supports the stakeholders in exploring and experimenting with various use cases, such as trade finance, real-world asset tokenization, carbon credit tokenization and various ancillary services to support the end-to-end tokenization. To facilitate these processes, the Lab and its participants will operate under the newly launched QFC Digital Assets Framework, established to ensure a secure and transparent digital asset ecosystem for asset tokenization processes and the implementation of a trusted technology infrastructure.

Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, QFC, commented on the diversity of the first cohort, stating: “I am delighted that the Digital Assets Lab has officially commenced, with 24 participants working on technologies with different applications. Their collective effort and expertise will be pivotal in advancing digital asset solutions across multiple industries. The technologies we aim to develop through the Lab will support our goal of creating a resilient and secure financial sector, fostering a thriving wealth management hub, and positioning Qatar at the forefront of innovation.”

In a Linkedin post, Henk Jan Hoogendoorn, Chief of Financial Services sector at QFC, noted, ” We are open for Financial Institutions that would like to partner with our Digital Assets Lab. We are aiming to attract use cases around tokenization of Real World Assets.”

While, Aditya Kumar Sinha, Head of Fintech & Digital Innovation at Qatar Financial Centre noted, “Congratulations to all the participants and lot of thanks to all our partners! We look forward to accelerate the pace of innovation in Qatar!”

The QFC Digital Assets Lab was launched in October 2023 to accelerate the development of Qatar’s digital ecosystem and provide a platform for transforming promising digital concepts into cutting-edge technologies that can be practically applied in various industries.

This comes weeks after Qatar announced its digital assets framework, and its DLT guidelines.

UAE Blockchain and AI technology entity, Capstone Technology, has raised $5.4 million in its first funding round, to develop the “GAYA” blockchain project.

The “GAYA” project aims to build a blockchain system and an integrated first network to support entrepreneurial projects in several sectors, including entertainment, gaming industry, artificial intelligence, in addition to environmental, social responsibility and governance standards; in order to contribute to providing innovative solutions that support the sustainable digital economy.

“The new project represents a strategic step towards an entrepreneurial environment based on using the latest technology to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs and tap new horizons for sustainable growth,” confirmed Abdullah Al-Mousa Al-Maksour, CEO of Capstone Technology Group.
He pointed out that to this end, the company works to own and manage technological assets and develop software with a special focus on Web 3 and mobile applications through effective partnerships, noting that his company will employ the new investments to enhance its presence in the UAE and the Arab region, improve its platform and provide new benefits to customers.

Al-Maksour explained that the project aims to continue efforts to adopt blockchain technology among entrepreneurs, in line with the UAE government’s vision to enhance the digital economy by supporting innovation and entrepreneurial projects to continue accelerating the pace of growth in this vital sector.

The UAE is one of the fastest growing countries in the fields of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology , as artificial intelligence technologies are expected to contribute about 14% of the gross domestic product by 2030.

UAE based Fils, an ESG-focused financial technology that utilizes blockchain technology is collaborating with Saudi based tech platform Madkhol, which specializes in robo-advisory investment services, to offset the carbon footprint of Saudi capital market fintechs. The official signing took place at the prestigious 24 Fintech event, marking a significant milestone for both companies and the region.

This collaboration allows Madkhol’s customers to seamlessly invest in carbon credits and actively offset their carbon footprint directly through the platform. By embedding Fils’ sustainability stack, Madkhol is setting a new benchmark for capital market fintechs in Saudi Arabia and beyond, enabling users to integrate impactful climate action into their investment portfolios.

Capital markets play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and sustainability initiatives. Globally, the world requires $9.2 trillion annually to meet sustainability and climate goals, according to industry estimates. Achieving this will require the participation of every industry, with capital markets as a key driver of this monumental transition. Sustainable investments, which reached over $35 trillion in assets in 2020, are a critical part of this movement.

Saudi Arabia is leading the charge with its Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) initiative, which aims to create one of the largest carbon trading platforms in the region. Spearheaded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Saudi Tadawul Group, this initiative aligns with the country’s Vision 2030 goals and is designed to promote investments in carbon credits and support companies in achieving their net-zero ambitions. The inaugural auction of carbon credits by the Saudi VCM saw a record 1.4 million tons of carbon credits sold, highlighting the sector’s growth potential.

The partnership between Fils and Madkhol is strategically aligned with Saudi Arabia’s VCM initiative. By leveraging Fils’ sustainability infrastructure, this collaboration allows users to participate in the carbon credit market with full transparency, trust, and integrity, setting a new standard for ESG investments.

CEO of Fils, Nameer Khan, commented: “Our partnership with Madkhol comes at a critical time when sustainable finance is becoming a cornerstone of capital markets, and Saudi Arabia’s VCM initiative is setting the stage for the region. Together, we are enabling users to make investments that not only drive returns but also contribute to a sustainable future. This collaboration highlights Fils’ commitment to transparency and trust, essential elements in building a credible and superior solution in the sustainability space.”

He added, “The global challenge of reaching $9.2 trillion annually in climate investments can only be met through the leadership of key industries, and capital markets are at the forefront of this transformation. Fils’ integrity-driven platform ensures that businesses and investors can participate in carbon markets with confidence, helping to foster a more sustainable world.”

Saad bin Atyan, CEO of Madkhol, commented, “At Madkhol, we are committed to providing our customers with innovative and responsible investment solutions. Partnering with Fils allows us to take our platform to the next level by integrating carbon credit investments and giving our customers a practical way to offset their emissions. Signing this partnership at 24 Fintech highlights our dedication to pioneering sustainable fintech in Saudi Arabia.”

By utilizing Fils’ comprehensive API-driven sustainability stack, Madkhol customers can now access a variety of carbon credit projects, enabling transparent reporting and ensuring investments align with environmental goals. This seamless integration also supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives of promoting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

Ahson Saeed, Partner – Strategy & Commercials at Fils, noted, “At Fils, we believe that the future of finance is not just about returns, but about responsible, impactful investments. Our partnership with Madkhol is a testament to this vision, bringing together cutting-edge technology and a deep commitment to sustainability. By integrating carbon credit investments into everyday financial decisions, we are empowering investors to take actionable steps towards a greener future. This collaboration marks a new chapter in sustainable finance, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious climate goals and the broader global movement towards ESG-driven growth.”

Currently, the Fils network supports over 105 banks, 1.5 million merchants, and 4 million wallets. Leveraging innovative fintech and blockchain technologies, Fils provides businesses with the tools to integrate climate-positive solutions across industries. Fils is at the forefront of transforming the financial landscape to foster sustainability, building trust through transparency and integrity.

US based Fluent Finance has joined the UAE’s NextGen FDI program and plans to develop a digital trade corridor in the UAE using stablecoins. The Ministry of Economy announced that the developer of a cryptocurrency-based payment platform that facilitates cross-border trade, joined and will be setting up operations in Abu Dhabi. Fluent plans to grow its workforce to between 100-125 people within five years.

Fluent will use its new UAE headquarters to deploy and scale its proprietary Fluent Economic Bridge, which can be used by importers and exporters to settle transactions via a bank-issued cryptocurrency, which are known as stablecoins or, increasingly, deposit tokens. By working with banks and regulators in the UAE capital, Fluent believes its platform offers the immediacy and transparency of cryptocurrency with the security and regulatory structure of the traditional banking system. They are already piloting the platform in Kenya, and now hope to develop a digital trade corridor with the UAE.

Fluent’s technology-led approach towards trade aligns with the Ministry of Economy’s TradeTech Initiative, in which they have partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to promote the use of advanced technology tools in global supply chains, and also the country’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement program, which aims to achieve frictionless trade between the UAE and an increasing number of nations across the world.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said Fluent’s participation in the NextGen FDI initiative underlines the UAE’s status as a hub for global trade and a supportive ecosystem for new technologies such as blockchain: “The UAE has become a prominent advocate for the modernization of the multilateral trading system, as well as a supportive place for the development of the tools and applications that can deliver it. I am optimistic about the possibilities of the Fluent Economic Bridge, and the potential for digital currencies to improve the efficiency and accessibility of global supply chains. In the build-up to the World Trade Organisation’s 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in February next year, encouraging platforms such as those developed by Fluent will offer an important proof point for the UAE’s leadership on trade technology.”

Bradley Allgood, Fluent Finance’s Chief Executive Officer, said the UAE was the obvious place in which to launch Fluent Economic Bridge. “The UAE offers exactly the kind of supportive, enabling environment that Web3 companies such as Fluent require. The combination of thoughtful regulation, forward-looking vision and advanced technology ambitions means we have the right foundations on which to develop our product and grow our organization. Importantly, this is also an important trade crossroads, which provides a multitude of opportunities to deploy our platform. We genuinely believe that, with the right support, we can transform Fluent Economic Bridge into the next unicorn.”

Launched in 2022, NextGen FDI aims to support the growth of the nation’s knowledge-driven economy by enabling rapid incorporation processes to speed up licensing, facilitating the issuance of bulk or golden visas, accelerating banking services, and providing commercial and residential lease incentives for advanced technology companies seeking to relocate to the UAE.

Recently The UAE Ministry of Economy incorporated VeraViews, a new Blockchain / DLT ( Distributed Ledger Technology) enabled digital advertising platform that verified advertising views and eliminates the dissemination of harmful content and bad actors from using the media supply chain to fund ad scams.

The UAE Ministry of Economy has incorporated VeraViews, a new Blockchain / DLT ( Distributed Ledger Technology) enabled digital advertising platform that verified advertising views and eliminates the dissemination of harmful content and bad actors from using the media supply chain to fund ad scams.

Using its proprietary blockchain proof of view technology, the company which is currently beta testing its video ad serving product, has established its global headquarter in Dubai Media City. VeraViews will ensure that marketing budgets reach verifiable audiences via properly accredited agencies and publishers.

The UAE Ministry of Economy has incorporated VeraViews under its NextGen FDI initiative. VeraViews is the latest enterprise to take advantage of the Ministry of Economy’s NextGen FDI program, which seeks to enhance the UAE’s competitiveness by attracting innovative companies with a package of market-entry fundamentals, including fast-track incorporation, bulk visa-issuance and access to banking and commercial real estate.

Its open-ledger advertising platform is powered by patented blockchain technology and has the potential to not only simplify the advertiser-publisher relationship but identify and ultimately eliminate malicious actors from the sector, at the same time contributing toward making the UAE the safest digital advertising ecosystem in the world.

Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said, “The NextGen FDI initiative continues to welcome cutting-edge companies that are developing and deploying advanced technology to enhance some of our most important industries. VeraViews’ distributed ledger technology based advertising platform has the potential to revolutionise the media sector here in the UAE – and, ultimately, across the world.

“Advertising is a crucial means for companies to build their business, expand their customer base and promote their products and services, and it is vital we are able to create an industry that is transparent and trustworthy, and an arena in which every dollar spent by our enterprises receives a dollar’s worth of value.”

VeraViews CEO Mark Firth believes the UAE is the ideal home for the company’s global headquarters. He added, “The media industry in the UAE is dynamic and diverse, with a mature blend of platforms, publishers, agencies and networks. VeraViews believes our distributed ledger technology can add significant value to the sector by helping to eliminate fraud and prevent the dissemination of misinformation or other forms of harmful content.

“We are hugely appreciative of the support the NextGen FDI programme has offered and welcome the opportunity to work with both the UAE government and industry stakeholders to build an advertising ecosystem that benefits everyone.”

The global digital advertising market is currently worth over US$550 billion, with the Middle East one of its fastest-growing regions. The region’s advertising market is projected to reach US$6.9 billion by the end of 2024, with online advertising accounting for well over half that total.

The UAE remains the second-largest advertising market, with US$1.8 billion spent in 2023.

UAE based ShipFinex, tokenization platform for maritime finance, has announced a strategic partnership with Tokeny, the leading onchain finance operating system specializing in tokenized securities.

As per the announcement, the collaboration aims to transform the tokenization and management of maritime assets, introducing a new era of transparency, security, and compliance in the multi-billion-dollar maritime sector.

ShipFinex will leverage Tokeny’s state-of-the-art technology to ensure that all tokenized maritime assets on its platform adhere to the highest standards of regulatory compliance and security. This integration will utilize the ERC-3643 standard, bolstering investor confidence and setting a new benchmark for digital finance in the maritime industry.

ShipFinex and Tokeny will aim to offer a secure, transparent, and regulated marketplace that opens maritime investments to a broader range of global investors.

The announcement follows ShipFinex’s recent milestone of receiving initial approval from the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) in the UAE.

This partnership with Tokeny further underscores ShipFinex’s commitment to adopting world-class solutions to enhance the security and compliance of its platform. By integrating Tokeny’s robust infrastructure, ShipFinex is well-positioned to lead the digital transformation of maritime finance.

R3 announced on LinkedIn that it was thrilled about the success of UAE RAKBANK  in their first cross border CBDC transaction using mBridge in which R3’s issuance layer technology solution played an instrumental role.

David E Rutter, CEO of R3 said: “The first cross-border CBDC transaction by a UAE local bank, RAKBANK, is a groundbreaking development for the UAE, and the region more broadly.

He added, “R3’s issuance layer technology and CBDC integration solutions have been instrumental in supporting RAKBANK to achieve this exciting milestone in production. R3’s ambition is to continue to deliver interoperable distributed ledger solutions, using Corda, our open, permissioned tokenization platform to the UAE and beyond.”

Rutter adds that R3 is committed to working with UAE domestic banks like R3 to build their digital ecosystem.

The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (“RAKBANK”) recently became one of the first banks in the United Arab Emirates to execute an international remittance using mbridge CBDC. The Bank utilized China’s digital Yuan (eCNY) in exchange for the Digital Dirham, the UAE’s CBDC.

Vikas Suri, Co-Head of Wholesale Banking Group at RAKBANK, added, “The successful transfer of eCNY to our correspondent in China is a game-changer in several respects. It’s one of the first UAE-led foreign currency transfers executed in local currencies without involving a third currency to China and without using conventional payment rails. This is a gamechanger that paves the way for instant blockchain based CBDC exchanges with payment versus payment, fundamentally altering how we approach international payments. Our next steps will focus on supporting the China and UAE business corridor for our clients, by leveraging mBridge to reduce costs and improve the speed of remittances.”

In an IMF blog, the International Monetary Fund noted that almost two-thirds of countries in the Middle East and Central Asia are exploring adopting a central bank digital currency with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE in the more advanced proof of concept stages. The countries in MENA and Central Asia are studying CBDCs as a way to promote financial inclusion and improve the efficiency of cross-border payments.

The IMF Blog noted however that CBDCs require careful consideration, with each weighing their own unique set of circumstances.

Many of the 19 countries currently exploring a CBDC are at the research stage. Bahrain, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have moved to the more advanced “proof-of-concept” stage. Kazakhstan is the most advanced after two pilot programs for the digital tenge.

Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 startups, Fuze, MENA provider digital assets infrastructure, and Bit2Me, a Spanish digital assets company, have partnered to improve digital assets infrastructure connectivity between Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.

As per the press release, this agreement unites two of the world’s leading digital assets platforms to maximize the prospect of platform trading using the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED). Fuze and Bit2Me’s collaboration will enable companies to collaborate on digital assets, products, and services. This includes enabling liquidity provision, collaborating on cross-border trading between Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, and facilitating connections, trades, and transactions in target market currencies. Both organizations will benefit from enhanced stability, decreased operational costs, and increased market efficiency.

Mohammed Ali Yusuf, Co-Founder and CEO of Fuze, said, “Bit2Me has a strong focus on regulation, security, and compliance across digital assets, marking them as an ideal partner for our strategic expansion. Together, we will be able to innovate and tap into the wealth of possibilities for regulated digital assets globally. We are proud to sign this agreement in Abu Dhabi, where we started our journey, a place that will be pivotal in developing cryptocurrency and the future of finance.”

Koh Martinez, Co-CEO of Bit2Me added, “There is a significant demand for digital assets services across the Middle East. We are delighted to enhance our global offering in tandem with Fuze.  Our teams will be able to share unique experiences and case studies across three continents to provide solutions for the ever-evolving cryptocurrency market.”

Peter Abou Hachem, Head of Growth and Strategy at Hub71 commented, “Within just one year of accepting our first cohort in Hub71+ Digital Assets, we have seen international startups like Bit2Me and Fuze join our vibrant community and collaborate to accelerate development in the digital assets space. This partnership is a testament to our community-focused programs and the supportive regulatory environment of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). By connecting and nurturing startups within our ecosystem, we are meeting our objective of driving innovation and creating valuable partnerships from our ecosystem to advance Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in technology globally.”

In August of this year, Klumi Ventures a blockchain-native Venture Capital Firm and Fund Manager based in Abu Dhabi, partnered with Fuze, to harness Klumi Ventures’ investment acumen and Web3 expertise alongside Fuze’s robust digital assets infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of Web3 technologies throughout the region. 

Even Tether, the global stablecoin and Fuze, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the terms of a collaboration on educational initiatives within the digital asset realm, with a particular focus on Turkey and the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi Hub71 welcomed 21 new startups to its Cohort 15, among them five startups into its digital asset’s cohort. The five startups set to join Hub71+ Digital Assets, a specialist ecosystem focused on unleashing the growth potential of Web3 and digital assets include Norway-based Gateway.fm, a distributed blockchain infrastructure that automates and provides enterprises with turnkey solutions for deploying private blockchains and infrastructure. The company has raised USD 6 million (AED 22 million).

Also joining the Hub71 + Digital Asset cohort is Chainsight, a platform aggregating on-chain and off-chain data, including Real World Assets (RWAs), to deliver comprehensive insights through time-series analysis.

easeflow will also join. It is an AI enabled management tool that simplifies node setup, operation, and management for node operators in the blockchain industry, while Greengage is a Web3 FinTech company providing accounts and lending services to SME’s and family office clients.

UK-based Greengage that offers Web3 FinTech solutions for SME and family offices has raised USD 10 million (AED 36 million) in funding is set to join the Hub71+ Digital Assets specialist ecosystem. By joining Hub71, these startups are establishing operations in Abu Dhabi, further solidifying the UAE capital’s status as a leading global tech hub and a preferred destination for entrepreneurial growth.

Finally Stables has joined. It is a platform that offers a mobile-first digital wallet live in 130 countries, powered by stablecoins to make cross-border remittances.

So far since its inception the Hub71 Cohort 15 has raised over $130 million in capital for startups with 80 percent of those startups headquartered outside UAE.

Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has welcomed 21 startups in Cohort 15, increasing the total number of ventures it supports to 243. Following a rigorous selection process, these startups will enter Hub71’s Access program and the specialist ecosystems of Hub71+ Digital Assets and Hub71+ ClimateTech.

Collectively, the startups in Cohort 15 have raised USD 134.9 million in funding, which underlines Hub71’s success in attracting high-potential startups poised to drive technological innovation across the priority sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy.

Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said: “Cohort 15 is abundant with pioneering startups that are positioned to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem. By providing the startups with access to investment opportunities and market reach, Hub71 is supporting the founders’ journey in Abu Dhabi and accelerating their transformative impact globally.”

By joining Hub71 “Access” and Hub71+ specialist ecosystems, startups will be able to tap into a vibrant community of mentors, partners, and investors within Abu Dhabi’s thriving technology ecosystem, gaining access to market opportunities, top talent, and capital, which significantly enhances their prospects of securing commercial deals, attracting investment, and driving market growth. Additionally, startups will benefit from up to AED 250,000 worth of in-kind incentives and AED 250,000 in cash for equity, through a SAFE note. High-performing startups will also be eligible to receive a top-up of up to AED 250,000 in exchange for additional equity upon completing the program.