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Bitcoin and Ethereum take 10th and 18th place in most traded instruments in GCC

Bitcoin and Ethereum take 10th and 18th place in most traded instruments in GCC

AvaTrade, aglobal trading company, released the latest data from its key GCC platforms, reinforcing its role as a source of real-time market intelligence. Covering activity across the region since April 1st, the data reveals the Top 25 most traded instruments by USD volume, with gold taking the lead and in the 10th and 18th place being Bitcoin and Ethereum. B

Based on AvaTrade’s platform activity over the past 2.5 months, collected from Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, gold appears as the most traded, with strong interest in U.S. equities, with all three major indices, NASDAQ 100, DJ30, and S&P 500, ranking within the top four, and the Russell 2000 close behind in eighth.

Commodities also featured prominently, with crude oil and Brent oil both placing in the 15 most traded instruments, and silver also making the list. Foreign exchange trading is also active, with major pairs such as USD/JPY, EUR/USD, and GBP/USD all ranking in the top ten. Other currency pairs like AUD/USD, USD/CHF, USD/CAD, and GBP/JPY follow closely behind.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin in 10th and Ethereum, ranked 18th, reflects a broader diversification in trading preferences across the region.

Reflecting on the recent data, Dáire Ferguson, CEO of AvaTrade, stated, ‘Sharing this type of trading insight is one of the many ways we aim to support our growing base of investors across the GCC. In an ever-changing global market, where regional dynamics also play a key role, timely data helps traders make more informed decisions.’

Established in 2006 as a pioneering online trading platform, AvaTrade is one of the most trusted brokers in the industry with nine regulations across six continents. Offering access to over 1,000 CFDs across forex, ETFs, indices, commodities, and crypto, the platform caters to both experienced investors and newcomers through a range of educational resources, trading tools, and market insights.

MENA Fintech Association opens chapter in Saudi

MENA Fintech Association opens chapter in Saudi

The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA), has opened a chapter in Saudi Chapter noting that it is a pivotal move to accelerate innovation, collaboration, and fintech growth across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The MFTA Saudi Chapter will be co-chaired by two recognised fintech leaders: Mona Alsemayen, a strategic force in digital transformation and regulatory advancement in the GCC, and Sophie Guibaud, a prominent European fintech executive with deep expertise in embedded finance and digital banking.

“This launch marks a new era of opportunity for the Kingdom,” said Mona Alsemayen, Lead of MFTA Saudi. She adds, “Saudi Arabia is poised to be a regional fintech powerhouse. By aligning MFTA’s global network with Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s fintech strategy, we will unlock new synergies between innovation, policy, and ecosystem development.”

Mona Alsemayen brings decades of cross-sectoral leadership experience, having held senior roles at the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Gulf Payments Company, and Amazon Payment Services. She played a central role in launching AFAQ, the first cross-border payment system in the GCC, and has represented Saudi Arabia at global forums including the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

Joining her as Co-Chair, Sophie Guibaud adds a global perspective to MFTA Saudi’s mission. “Saudi Arabia’s fintech landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. I’m honored to support this next wave of growth, where embedded finance, open banking, and inclusive design can deliver real-world impact,” said Guibaud.

Sophie has led digital banking and embedded finance strategies across major European fintechs. Her expertise in innovation-driven transformation will be instrumental in aligning Saudi’s fintech ecosystem with emerging global trends.

MFTA Saudi will serve as a convening platform for fintech companies, regulators, banks, investors, and technology leaders to collaborate, co-create, and shape the future of finance in the Kingdom. The chapter will focus on key areas including, policy & regulation dialogue, digital payments and embedded finance, open banking and cross-border innovation and ecosystem development and talent empowerment.

Middle East governments building on blockchain, AI and Bitcoin reserves

Middle East governments building on blockchain, AI and Bitcoin reserves

Raoul Pal, the Co-Founder and CEO of Real Vision, a financial knowledge and educational platform, in his recent visit and meeting with sovereign wealth funds in the MENA region, specifically in the GCC, has found that the mandate is to use AI ( Artifical Intelligence) and Blockchain across the entire region.

In his X video post interview, Pal noted, ” A month ago during my last trip to MENA region, and in my meetings with sovereign wealth funds across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and UAE, the mandate across entire region from Saudi, Abu Dhabi Bahrain and Qatar is AI and Blockchain and not just using Bitcoin as a reserve asset but building the entire government structure on blockchain, driving licenses, property deeds the whole bloody lot.”

Pal is also the co-founder and CEO of Exponential Age Asset Management, an asset management business that focuses on investing in the digital asset space via a fund of hedge funds (EADAF) and other vehicles.

He adds with the money coming in from sovereign wealth funds, if we are to go from $3 trillion to $100 trillion you need the largest players each time, unless you have bigger players. function of size of market more blockchain technology is used the use of Alt coins for infrastructure rails increase.

MENA Sovereign Wealth funds invest in Bitcoin

His statements come at a time when sovereign wealth funds either openly or less openly are investing in Bitcoin. Earlier this year Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, disclosed a $408.5 million stake in IShare Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) in a 13F filing released on My 15th 2025. The fund reported holding 8,726,972 shares as of March 31, 2025, an increase from 8,235,533 shares reported at the end of 2024. This increased exposure showcases the perception change regarding Bitcoin and crypto in general after President Trump has taken office. Back at the end of 2024, UAE Mubadala, a sovereign investment fund, revealed in an SEC Filing that in late 2024 it invested $436 million worth in BlackRock’s Ishares Bitcoin Trust ETF. The disclosure was made through a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

While Saudi Central Bank better known as SAMA in a recent SEC ( Securities and Commodities Exchange) 13F filing disclosed that it has invested and holds 25,656 shares in MicroStrategy Inc. For those not familiar with MicroStrategy, now known as Strategy, it is an award-winning AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Business Intelligence platform trusted to deliver intelligence everywhere, on any cloud, at enterprise scale. It is also one of the biggest buyers of Bitcoin. Its strategy has been to issue equity, debt and preferred stock to acquire the digital currency, and it has been on a buying spree.

Even Bahrain based Al Abraaj Restaurants Group B.S.C. (Ticker: ABRAAJ) (“Company”), a public listed company on the Bahrain Bourse, has announced that it put Bitcoin on its balance sheet. The Group has purchased Bitcoin in partnership with U.S. based 10X Capital, becoming the first publicly traded company in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”), and the Middle East to acquire Bitcoin as a treasury asset.

MENA Governments all in on AI and Blockchain

It is no secret that Saudi Arabia is investing in AI as is UAE and Qatar. Additionally the UAE has been implementing blockchain within the government over the years but in recent times Abu Dhabi has stated it will utilize blockchain in the government. Agile Dynamics, a UAE based consulting firm, will work to develop a sovereign quantum resistant blockchain infrastructure with Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement in UAE. Agile Dynamics has been selected as the program’s strategic partner, while ADI Blockchain Foundation will be developing an AED stablecoin to be issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank, with the support of ADQ a sovereign investor and IHC an investor as well.

Then ofcourse there is Qatar with its digital asset tokenization strategy and Digital Assets Lab. Recently during the Qatar Economic Foundation, attendees got a glimpse of a future that might include stablecoins. The UAE is well ahead with its stablecoin regulations and its AECOIN.

PAL sees Bitcoin growth phase

Amidst all this Pal believes “With the dollar breaking down even today, it’s starting to suggest this may go into Q2 2026,” he said. Since the beginning of the year, the US Dollar Index has been down 8.995, sitting at 98.77 at the time of writing, according to data from TradingView. Bitcoin and DXY are inversely correlated. This means that when the dollar weakens, Bitcoin becomes more attractive not just as a speculative investment but as an alternative currency.

Pal also added that macroeconomic data has been a primary reason why the crypto cycle has always shifted further back. “It’s like the whole cycle got shifted cause rates didn’t get adjusted; the dollar was sideways for some time,” he said. He also said that the current market may show signs of looking like the market in 2020 more than the one in 2021, suggesting that it could be at an earlier growth phase than many are predicting.

Bitcoin began 2020 at $7,174, but dropped by 27% in March to $5,227. The asset then rebounded 129% to hit $11,990 in August, before witnessing a 304% increase, ending the year at $28,993.

Will the Banking sector take over crypto exchanges using stablecoins?

Will the Banking sector take over crypto exchanges using stablecoins?

In an article this week on CNN Business Arabic, Bitget crypto exchange COO and Bitgo MENA regional Manager gave their views on how banks are entering the crypto space through stablecoins. This comes as the United States passed the Genius Act in the Senate, and now is going to the House with extra push from Trump himself.

The article notes that stablecoins have gained a steady ground within the banking sector as regulatory legislation advances in the United States and Europe. Several major banks have entered pilot tests or begun developing their own stablecoins.

According to CoinDesk data, the market capitalization of stablecoins hit an all-time high of $251.7 billion, up 22% so far this year, with Citi Group noting that stablecoin market will reach $3.7 trillion by 2030.

In the CNN article Vugar Usi Zade, COO of Bitget, the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency exchange, noted that this trend reflects the importance of stablecoins as an integral part of the financial landscape. He emphasized that the entry of banks does not mean the end of trading platforms. “We don’t just provide financial services; we are the financing tools of the future,” he said.

For his part, Nick Coombs, Regional Director of BitGO in MENA, sees collaboration as the future of the sector and a great opportunity for expansion. “Big banks are by nature slow and conservative. We provide them with the digital infrastructure they couldn’t build on their own,” he told CNN Business.


Bitgo, the custodian of the USD1 stablecoin, provides turnkey solutions for banks through its “Stablecoin-as-a-Service” service. It also offers technologies such as “Advanced Key Management,” which allows banks to issue their own currencies at lower costs and with ready-made infrastructure.

Vugar that the entrance of banks into the crypto domain, will lead to more control over custody services which could lead to more centralization. The absence of crypto self custody services means less privacy notes Vugar. Yet he sees the future as hybrid, between crypto exchanges, crypto custodian and banking sector.

Nick Coombs explains that crypto is being reshaped today to serve the very system it was born to oppose, but banks will still need to partner with specialized entities like BitGo to ensure security, compliance, and speed in developing new products. “Because of their cautious nature, banks will not service many emerging blockchains, as they will focus on Bitcoin, even though there are thousands of blockchains that need the services of companies like us,” he added.

Vugar adds, “What distinguishes us is speed, innovation, and our commitment to a culture of decentralization. We are not replicating the experience of banks, but rather reinventing it.” He said, “Stablecoins have changed the rules of the game in cross-border payments, and they offer tremendous advantages, given their speed and competitive cost of no more than 0.1%.” He predicted that this market will grow within five years, with stablecoin adoption increasing tenfold.

He predicted that we will soon witness initial public offerings (IPOs) for cryptocurrency exchanges, as they are technology companies. This will attract significant investments, allow them to grow, and possibly acquire small and medium-sized banks to offer banking products to a global audience.

The article notes that with the entrance of banks, will crypto be losing the reason for its creation, or will a new financial system emerge.

Dubai’s VARA and Blockchain Ireland partner to advance virtual asset startups

Dubai’s VARA and Blockchain Ireland partner to advance virtual asset startups

Blockchain Ireland recently signed an MoU with Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA] to partner towards deepening collaboration between two forward looking jurisdictions committed to the responsible advancement of virtual assets, Web3, and emerging digital economies.

As per the LinkedIn post, the agreement aims to foster bilateral knowledge exchange and regulatory dialogue, support start-ups and scale-ups looking to expand across the EU and the Middle East, build bridges between talent, capital, and innovation ecosystems and promote policy leadership and cross-border cooperation in the virtual asset sector.

Over the past decade, economic ties between the two countries have strengthened significantly. Irish exports to the UAE have grown by 127%, with imports increasing by 3,094%. The total bilateral trade is now value at more than €2.25 billion annually.

Blockchain Ireland noted on LinkedIn, “As the global regulatory landscape evolves, we believe strategic partnerships like this are vital to shaping a safe, secure, and innovation-friendly future for the industry.”

XBTO and Arab Bank in Switzerland launch Bitcoin yield product

XBTO and Arab Bank in Switzerland launch Bitcoin yield product

UAE licensed XBTO, an institutional digital asset management, and Arab Bank Switzerland to launch a Bitcoin yield product for its wealth management clients. The collaboration leverages XBTO’s proprietary “Diamond Hands” strategy to provide Arab Bank Switzerland’s clientele with an actively managed approach to generating yield on their Bitcoin holdings.

As per the press release, the partnership addresses growing client demand for yield-generating cryptocurrency products within a comprehensive regulatory framework and institutional oversight structure. This offering will be branded as an “Arab Bank Switzerland product powered by XBTO,” preserving established client relationships while expanding investment capabilities through proven institutional digital asset management expertise.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in our strategy to work with leading traditional financial institutions,” said Karl Naim, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager for UAE at XBTO. “Arab Bank Switzerland’s six-year digital asset infrastructure development, combined with direct client demand for Bitcoin yield products, created the perfect foundation for this collaboration.”

Arab Bank Switzerland, which has offered Bitcoin custody services through its partnership with Taurus since 2019, identified a specific gap in their digital asset offerings. While the bank provided custody and loan-to-value lending against Bitcoin, high-net-worth clients specifically requested active yield-generating opportunities.

“We have seen growing demand from our wealth management clients for ways to generate yield on their Bitcoin holdings within a properly managed risk framework,” said Romain Braud, Head of Digital Assets at Arab Bank Switzerland. “This collaboration will position Arab Bank Switzerland as the first traditional Swiss private bank to offer an integrated, bank-branded Bitcoin yield product,while maintaining the personal relationship and fiduciary care clients expect from private banking.” 

XBTO’s “Diamond Hands” strategy employs an options-based methodology designed to generate yield while strategically accumulating Bitcoin during market opportunities. The approach uses existing Bitcoin holdings as collateral for options transactions, generating premiums while positioning for accumulation during market pullbacks.

“The maturation of institutional digital asset demand requires sophisticated solutions that go beyond simple exposure,” said Javier Rodriguez-Alarcon, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Asset Management at XBTO. “This partnership demonstrates how established wealth managers can integrate crypto solutions while maintaining fiduciary responsibility through rigorous risk management and institutional oversight. Our approach prioritizes capital preservation and consistent yield generation over speculative trading.”

UAE Zodia Custody, digital assets are intrinsic in UAE’s government strategy

UAE Zodia Custody, digital assets are intrinsic in UAE’s government strategy

Dominic Longman is Managing Director of Middle East and Africa at Zodia Custody noted in a monthly interview on their website, that the UAE mood for digital assets is incredibly positive and that digital assets are now intrinsic in the government’s DNA.

He notes that the UAE has ignored the hype cycle nodes and devised “a well thought-through strategy and a considered long-term path. This process has been in motion since 2015 and it’s not just about blockchain or digital assets as technologies, it’s about attracting firms that build jobs, industries and long-term value.”

He believes that because of UAE’s government structure an the regulators ADGM and VARA, the UAE can think strategically in 10–15-year arcs not in four-year election cycles.

He adds that big names like Binance and Bybit have set up regional bases, with others including Galaxy Digital making plans to move here. Prime brokerage firms, auditors, fund administrators and infrastructure providers are also following. When I arrived in 2015 there wasn’t yet a local auditor with digital assets capabilities; today, there are multiple global and regional firms that provide that expertise. This ecosystem maturity means that institutions aren’t just bringing capital – they’re enabling the full operational chain: compliance, auditing, legal, infrastructure and education.

When I speak with U.S. firms, they tell me: ‘We don’t know what the next administration will bring. But we know what the UAE’s 20-year plan looks like.’ That predictability is gold.

In terms of tokenization, Longman believes tokenizing real estate, infrastructure and bonds is one of the biggest topics. He stated, “This country is built on real estate, so that is important, but even more significant is building the next generation of tokenized financial instruments. Some very mature discussions are underway between firms, regulators, and infrastructure providers about how to tokenize everything from shopping malls to sovereign debt. Everyone’s past the hype. Now it’s about ownership, access, liquidity but with real controls in place.”

He believes the cornerstone of tokenization will be stablecoins as they are critical in these tokenization discussions. He explains, ” The region settles in dollars and the UAE Dirham is pegged to the US dollar so using USD stablecoins for trade, especially in logistics and energy, is a no-brainer. It’s faster, cheaper and removes friction. While the licensing of stablecoins ultimately sits with the UAE Central Bank, there is growing momentum across the ecosystem – including in ADGM and VARA – to enable innovation within this space. Notably, the Central Bank is now developing regulatory frameworks for AED-backed stablecoins, which could play an important role in enabling more efficient local settlement and expanding the scope of tokenized financial infrastructure within the region.”

As for the future Longman sees that tokenized securities on regulated exchanges will offer real time settlement, and 24/7 markets. He says this is beyond crypto ETFs, but about rebuilding the core of financial markets.

He says, “The UAE isn’t just aiming to be a digital asset friendly jurisdiction – it wants to be the center for tokenized finance. We’re also starting to see early signs of convergence between digital assets and AI – from the use of insight agents to develop entirely new financial products, to unlocking previously inaccessible liquidity pools. These technologies aren’t evolving in parallel anymore; they’re reinforcing one another. This is bigger than margin trading or digital asset custody. We’re talking about the future of capital markets.”

Iranian government asks crypto exchanges to limit operating hours

Iranian government asks crypto exchanges to limit operating hours

After Iranian’s largest cryptocurrency platform, Nobitex, was exploited, resulting in the loss of more than $90 million in assets spanning a range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Ripple, Solana, Tron, and Ton, in the aftermath, the Iranian government has since then asked crypto exchanges to limit their operational hours from 10 am to 8 pm.

The exploitation was carried out by a pro-Israel group known as Gonjeshke Darande framing the attack as a politically motivated strike against Iranian digital infrastructure. Notably, Chainalysis analysis indicates that this is the case, the attacker-controlled wallets were burner addresses lacking private key access, suggesting that the theft of more than $90 million was likely politically motivated, rather than financial in nature. While this is the first hack of this scale exclusively for geopolitical purposes, this is not the first time there’s been increased activity during windows of high geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran, as noted in our 2024 Crypto Crime Report.

Israel is attacking the financial infrastructure of Iran, both with ATMs and crypto exchanges. Because of the sanctions, crypto exchanges like Nobitex have become the access platform for Iranians who want to access global crypto markets. Nobitex’s total inflows are well over $11 billion, compared to just under $7.5 billion for the next ten largest Iranian exchanges combined.

In the immediate aftermath of the exploit, Nobitex issued a public statement, assuring users that their funds were safe. While on-chain analysis confirms that the attacker burned the stolen funds, making them irretrievable, Nobitex has taken additional steps to reinforce user trust. Notably, the exchange has moved large quantities of Bitcoin to what appear to be newly established cold storage wallets, an effort likely aimed at bolstering its security posture and reducing exposure to similar future attacks.

Beyond Nobitex itself, the incident appears to have triggered a wider response from the Iranian regime. According to reports, the Central Bank of Iran has directed all domestic crypto exchanges to limit their operating hours to between 10 AM and 8 PM.

Jordan now allows crypto payments, trading and investments

Jordan now allows crypto payments, trading and investments

Jordan has passed its virtual asset regulations which will become applicable within the next 90 days. The law covers what is considered as virtual assets, what virtual asset service providers are allowed to be licensed as well as all the related AML and KYC requirements.

Law No 14 of 2025, notes that virtual assets can be used for payments, investments, and more. It also notes that VASPs can be licensed as crypto exchanges, crypto payment providers as well as crypto custodians.

The law does not cover digital securities, and digital financial assets which will be subject to their own regulations. It also does not cover CBDCs ( Central Bank Digital Currency) which will be issued by Jordan’s Central Bank

In its Article 4-L the law discusses how virtual assets will operate and managed by virtual asset platforms. It also discusses the exchange between virtual assets and Jordanian or foreign currency, the exchange between virtual assets and other virtual assets, the transfer of virtual assets from one address to another, the nature of virtual assets and their management, including the tools that enable
the price of Providing brokerage services in virtual asset trading operations and participating in and providing related financial services to issuers of virtual assets.

Talal Tabaa, a Jordanian national and Co-Founder and CEO of CoinMENA, noted on LinkedIn, ” With the passing of Law No. 14 of 2025, Jordan now has an official legal framework for virtual assets — marking a pivotal moment in the country’s journey toward financial innovation. More importantly, it signals a clear commitment to responsible growth.”

He gives full credit to the Central Bank of Jordan, the Jordan Securities Commission, and the Prime Minister Office for leading this effort. He also mentions their proactive consultation with the industry before finalizing the law set a strong example of collaborative policymaking.

He adds, ” By embracing this emerging asset class, Jordan is laying the groundwork to strengthen its financial ecosystem, attract fintech innovation and global investment and enhance consumer protection and trust. As a proud Jordanian and crypto entrepreneur, I believe this law will be a catalyst for building a more dynamic and inclusive financial future.”

In May 2025, The Jordanian Senate Finance and Economic Committee, chaired by Senator Rajai Muasher, approved the Virtual Assets Regulation Bill of 2025 on Monday, as received from the House of Representatives. This came during a meeting attended by Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh, Minister of State for Legal Affairs Dr. Fayyad Qudah, Minister of State for Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Eng. Sami Smeirat, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Ziad Ghanma, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Jordan Securities Commission Dr. Adel Bino, and Head of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit Samia Al-Sharif.

Prior to this in January 2025, The Jordanian government Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory framework for virtual and digital assets within one year. The initiative aims to align with global standards and foster a robust digital economy in Jordan.

According to Statistica, the projected revenue in the crypto market for Jordan is estimated to reach US$29.4m in 2025 while the number of crypto users in Jordan is expected to reach 894.75k users by 2026. The user penetration rate is projected to be 7.36% in 2025 and is expected to rise to 7.72% by 2026.


Luxury Aviation Forte Aviation in UAE to accept stablecoin payments through Deus X Pay

Luxury Aviation Forte Aviation in UAE to accept stablecoin payments through Deus X Pay

Deus X Pay, a licensed institutional stablecoin payment solutions provider, has partnered with UAE based Forté Aviation Consultants, a leading provider of bespoke global private jet charter solutions to offer cryptocurrency payment options in the form of stablecoins for its clients.

UAE Forté Aviation caters to a diverse range of needs from single flights to complex multi-leg journeys.

“Partnering with Deus X Pay allows us to elevate the customer experience by offering cryptocurrency payment options,” said Jeffrey Emmenis, Managing Partner & Chief Executive Officer. “In an industry defined by precision and exclusivity, this integration will ensure that our clients can book their travel effortlessly, reflecting our commitment to meticulous service.”

Richard Crook, CEO of Deus X Pay, emphasised the significance of this partnership, stating, “Our collaboration with Forté Aviation demonstrates a shared vision of simplifying payment processes in luxury travel. By leveraging our cryptocurrency payment solutions, we empower Forté’s clients with the flexibility and security they demand.”

The collaboration between Deus X Pay and Forté Aviation represents a significant advancement in the use of cryptocurrency in luxury aviation, setting new standards for innovation and customer experience while paving the way for exciting opportunities in the industry.

In May 2025, Crypto.com exchange, a regulated crypto exchange operating out of Dubai UAE, partnered with Emarat Energy Company to offer crypto payment options at select Emarat service stations. As per the LinkedIn post the expansion depends on regulatory approvals and customer demand.

Additionally UAE based ATS Travel, a premier travel management company, and Payhound, a Malta based regulated provider of fully regulated crypto payment solutions, also partnered to enable ATS Travel to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for all its services.