UAE based MANSA raises $10 million led by Tether

UAE based MANSA raises $10 million led by Tether

UAE based MANSA, a fintech innovator in cross-border payments, has raised $10 million in its recent funding round led by Tether, the creator of USDT stablecoin. MANSA aims to alleviate liquidity challenges for payment companies worldwide.

The company’s stablecoin-based solution offers payment providers in emerging and mature markets a flexible and reliable way to manage liquidity challenges in cross-border payments.

MANSA raised $3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Tether and co-led by Polymorphic Capital with participation from other prominent investors, including Octerra Capital, Faculty Group, and Trive Digital. The fintech company has secured an additional $7 million in liquidity funding from institutions, including corporate investors, quantitative funds, and alternative investment firms.

As per the press release the funds will support the company’s further market expansion into Latin America and Southeast Asia, alongside the rollout of bespoke liquidity and ancillary solutions tailored to address complex cross-border payments needs.

“Securing $10 million in pre-seed and liquidity funding marks a significant milestone in our mission to transform the way money moves. By bringing payments on-chain and leveraging efficient liquidity solutions, we are addressing critical challenges in cross-border transactions—making payments faster, cheaper, and more reliable worldwide” said Mouloukou Sanoh, CEO and Co-Founder of MANSA. “This funding accelerates our global expansion, enabling us to empower payment companies with seamless, real-time settlement infrastructure and drive the future of payments”

Since its launch in August 2024, MANSA has gained traction by building partnerships with major payment companies across Africa, Asia, and South America. These strategic alliances have contributed to the proliferation of its instant liquidity solutions, resulting in $27 million in transaction volume to date, with nearly $11 million in on-chain transaction volume in January – reflecting a 574% growth from August 2024. MANSA leverages stablecoins, thereby reducing settlement delays and transaction costs, and giving payment providers the resources to scale their operations efficiently.

“MANSA’s vision for addressing liquidity challenges in cross-border payments aligns with our mission to create a more efficient and inclusive financial system. By leveraging USDT for real-time settlements and instant payouts, MANSA is solving critical pain points for payment companies operating in emerging markets. We are proud to collaborate with MANSA and support their efforts to reshape global payment infrastructure.” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.

The newly secured funds will be instrumental in its strategic expansion into Latin America and Southeast Asia – regions where liquidity challenges hinder cross-border transactions. It intends to expand its reach and influence by enabling faster, more affordable payment solutions through scaling its liquidity infrastructure and developing strategic partnerships.

“Mansa is here to disrupt a massive traditional market with blockchain and the Web3 paradigm. Polymorphic supports extraordinary founders. The Mansa team is up to this incredible challenge. stated Vitaly Spassky, Managing Partner, Polymorphic Capital

“We invested in MANSA because of their bold, diverse, high-caliber team of visionary founders addressing critical challenges faced by payments companies in Emerging Markets. We firmly believe that decentralized finance and asset tokenization are game-changing frontier technologies. With immense market potential in emerging economies, MANSA is uniquely positioned to drive transformative impact and bridge the credit gap across Africa.” added, Ashim Egunjobi, Managing Partner, Octerra Capital

UAE Haifin offers blockchain trade finance solution in Bahrain with BENEFIT

UAE Haifin offers blockchain trade finance solution in Bahrain with BENEFIT

Bahrain based BENEFIT, aFintech and electronic financial transactions service, has partnered with haifin, an e& enterprise company (part of e&) formerly known as UAE Trade Connect offering Blockchain enabled trade financing platform,to revolutionize Bahrain’s banking sector by fostering innovation, and enhancing financial resilience across the industry.

With a proven track record in de-risking trade finance lending, haifin—live in UAE since 2021—has leveraged cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain and advanced analytics to prevent fraud in real-time, saving over $150 million for its consortium members.

As per the press release, the partnership is set to enhance the ability of Bahrain’s banking industry to mitigate risks and prevent fraud, particularly in trade finance. By improving risk management, the collaboration is expected to boost banks’ lending confidence, increase revenues, and improve access to liquidity for SMEs and corporate borrowers.

Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of BENEFIT, commented that this partnership marks a significant step in strengthening Bahrain’s financial ecosystem through advanced technology. He added, “By equipping banks with cutting-edge tools to proactively combat fraud and streamline trade finance, we are empowering the sector to operate with unparalleled efficiency and confidence. By uniting our expertise, we are reinforcing trust, security, and innovation at the heart of the industry’s future, setting the stage for a more resilient and digitally advanced banking landscape in Bahrain.”

Zul Javaid, Chief Executive of haifin, highlighted the importance of this partnership added, “After our success in the UAE and our ambition to address similar challenges across the MEA region this collaboration with BENEFIT marks a major milestone. Together, we aim to deliver advanced technology solutions that enhance risk management which ultimately drives growth for banks.”

The members of Haifin platform include UAE Banks Federation, Al Masraf, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Commercial Bank International, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Dubai Islamic Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Habib Bank AG Zurich, Invest Bank, Mashreq Corporate & Investment Banking Group, National Bank of Fujairah, RAKBANK, Sharjah Islamic Bank, United Arab Bank, Beehive Fintech, CredibleX, DP World, and Finneva.

Prior to the recent agreement with Bahrain’s BENEFIT, Zul Javaid expressed his interest in expanding Haifan offering to countries across the GCC and MENA regions, including KSA hiring Wissam Massud to lead their international expansion in 2023.

Allo XYZ tokenization platform accepted into Qatar Digital Assets Lab

Allo XYZ tokenization platform accepted into Qatar Digital Assets Lab

UAE based Allo.xyz, a blockchain platform for AI Agent Funds and Real World Assets with $2 billion+ in tokenized assets, which received a $100M credit facility backed by Bitcoin has been accepted into Qatar’s Digital Assets Lab, bolstering its presence in the crypto lending sector.

Allo xyz has participated in Binance Labs and BNB Chain’s MVB Accelerator program and tokenized $2.2B in assets on BNB Chain. The company seeks to tokenize $1 trillion assets by 2030.

RWA tokenization is the process of converting rights to a real-world asset into a digital token on a blockchain. These assets can include real estate, art, commodities, or even intellectual property. By tokenizing these assets, we bridge the physical world and the digital realm, enabling fractional ownership, increased liquidity, and more efficient trading.

In 2025, the concept of tokenization has seen remarkable growth, the growth trajectory suggests that the RWA tokenization market could potentially reach a staggering $30.1 trillion by 2034.

“We’re projecting a very strong Q4 this year. Stablecoins are about $200 billion. In TVL, we have treasuries at about a few billion dollars. Private credit at about $10 billion. Treasuries, stablecoins, and private credit are early movers in the space, and we’ll see a continuation of that,” said Kingsley Advani, Founder and CEO of Allo XYZ told BeInCrypto in a recent article.

So far the Qatar Digital Assets Labs has accepted, Accelerated Sustainable Materials Discovery, Alt DRX a Digital Real Estate Exchange, ArcaX, Asset Share, Audteye, Blade Labs, BlockStead, FinRock, DMZ, evergon, FalconNest Labs, iTOO technologies, mintus, oori, partier, Polygon, Proptech, Scie NFT, SettleMint, SeedraChain, Skarguard Taurus, xALTs, Verity, SurferMonkey, Ryzer Doha Digits, Hacken, Root VX, DAVID and Stobox.

Mantra Finance secures first DeFi license in UAE

Mantra Finance secures first DeFi license in UAE

Mantra Finance a decentralized Finance platform operated by MANTRA Group, has secured the first DeFi license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulator Authority (VARA).

Mantra Finance with the license will be able to operate as a Virtual Asset Exchange, as well as offer crypto broker dealer and management investment services.

As per the press release, this is significant milestone in MANTRA’s commitment to regulatory compliance, security, and innovation within the rapidly growing virtual assets ecosystem. The VARA license will support not just MANTRA’s global footprint as it introduces a range of innovative, regulatory-compliant financial products tailored to the evolving needs of investors around the world, but position it to further scale operations in the Middle East focused on the tokenization of real world assets (RWAs).

“By establishing the most timely, comprehensive and built from-the-ground-up framework for virtual assets and Web3, Dubai and VARA have become world leaders in crypto regulation. This license was a crucial step for MANTRA and a key step in our journey towards global expansion,” said John Patrick Mullin, CEO of MANTRA.

“The UAE and broader MENA region has fast become a progressive global hub and thriving ecosystem for Web3 and virtual assets owing to their regulatory initiatives and frameworks. This license not only strengthens our presence regionally, it positions us internationally to deliver unique DeFi products that bridge the gap between decentralized finance and traditional finance. Our goal is to build a future-focused financial ecosystem that benefits institutional and qualified investors globally.”

“By obtaining this license, MANTRA joins a growing community of regulated entities operating within the UAE, and we are excited to work alongside industry leaders to shape the future of virtual assets,” added Mullin. “Our regulatory compliance is fundamental to the trust we build with users, and it reflects our long-term vision of driving responsible growth in the digital asset space.”

As the platform continues to innovate, MANTRA will launch a variety of unique DeFi products designed to meet the dynamic needs of investors. Each product is developed with strict adherence to local regulations and international policy frameworks, ensuring that users benefit from both security and cutting-edge financial tools.

Mantra raised $11 million from Shorooq Partners in UAE

MANTRA Chain a Layer 1 blockchain for real world tokenization, raised $11 million led by UAE based Shorooq Partners with investors including Three-point capital, Forte Securities, VirtuZone, Hex Trust and GameFi Ventures. The news which was published in Coindesk stated, that Mantra Chain was in the final stages of receiving licenses from Dubai’s crypto regulator, VARA.

Mantra is already posed for success with its recent agreement with DAMAC Group to tokenize $1 billion worth of assets. In addition it has also signed an agreement to tokenize assets worth half a billion dollars with MAG Group.

UAE Fuze digital assets solutions in Turkey with Aktif ventures

UAE Fuze digital assets solutions in Turkey with Aktif ventures

UAE Fuze, a digital assets infrastructure provider has partnered with Turkish based Aktif Ventures, that invests, advices and offers Fintech technologies. Aktif Ventures will utilize the digital asset solutions offered by Fuze to its product portfolio.

With this partnership, Aktif Ventures will be able to provide OTC solutions to CMB intermediaries and banks in the field of large-scale corporate acquisitions and asset management, while also offering KYC and custody processes that comply with the legislation in cooperation with the institutions it is integrated with.

Yasemin Evsahibioğlu, General Manager of Aktif Ventures, said, “As Aktif Ventures, we continue to develop our fintech ecosystem with our leading API marketplace Apilion. I can say that we have developed our new term strategy by focusing on the financial technologies of the future and have achieved an important milestone in our sector with our partnership with Fuze Finance. I believe that with this partnership, we will take on a pioneering role in the crypto field, which is one of the new actors in the fintech world, and make a difference with our products.”

Fuze Finance CEO Mo Ali Yusuf added, “Fuze, has become one of the strongest financial institutions in the region, and it will continue its success in the Turkish market. With our unique DaaS (Digital Asset as a Service) infrastructure, high-volume crypto trading services, OTC services and advanced custody solutions that we offer to financial institutions, we aim to meet the most critical needs of the market with the most reliable and innovative infrastructures.”

The collaboration will leverage Fuze’s suite of offerings, making crypto trading, liquidity management, OTC solutions, wallet/custody services, and real-time portfolio management more accessible than ever.

Banks and intermediaries can now access a secure, fully compliant infrastructure for large-scale institutional transactions, all while seamlessly integrating KYC and custody processes. No hassle, no complexity – just fast, secure, and scalable solutions for the digital age.

Earlier in the year UAE regulated CoinMENA and Fuze were the first crypto exchanges in MENA to be onboarded onto Mastercard Crypto Credential platform that allows crypto exchange users to send and receive cryptocurrencies using simple aliases instead of complex blockchain addresses.

Qatar Investment Authority funds Rasmal Ventures

Qatar Investment Authority funds Rasmal Ventures

Qatar Investment Authority has funded Rasmal Ventures LLC as part of its Fund of Funds Program. The funding is received into Rasmal Venture’s inaugural, home-grown venture capital fund, Rasmal Innovation Fund I LLC, which targets high-performance startups and scales up across a variety of innovative technology sectors, including fintech, B2B SaaS, HealthTech and AI.

Rasmal Innovation Fund I LLC is the first fund announcement as part of QIA’s $1 billion Fund of Funds program announced as open to applicants in February 2024.

To date, the Rasmal Innovation Fund I LLC has closed funding from QIA’s Fund of Funds, corporates, family offices and individual high-net-worth investors with an aim to reach $100 million in investment commitments. The fund is only open to professional investors as defined in QFCRA regulation.

Alexander Wiedmer, Co-Managing Partner of Rasmal Ventures, said, “As the first private VC fund based in Doha, we have forged strong partnerships with leading Qatari institutions to work closely with exceptional founders, stimulate innovation, and meet the region’s unique needs. While still in the early stages of capital deployment, we take pride in our first investments in proprietary tech startups. The trust QIA and our other investors placed in us is a testament to our team’s capabilities and dedication. We will continue to grow our presence across the region and execute our highly selective investment strategy to establish ourselves as a key player in the MENA VC landscape.”

Tokinvest and HKVAX crypto exchange partner for tokenized investments

Tokinvest and HKVAX crypto exchange partner for tokenized investments

UAE regulated, Tokinvest, real-world asset tokenization marketplace, and HKVAX, a crypto asset trading platform, have partnered to transform the global digital asset markets by linking Hong Kong’s established financial infrastructure with Dubai’s rapidly expanding virtual asset ecosystem. The alliance seeks to pave the way for a new era of tokenized investments.

By bringing together HKVAX’s SFC-regulated platform in Hong Kong and Tokinvest’s VARA-licensed broker-dealer operations in Dubai, this collaboration establishes a cross-regional tokenization corridor. The alliance will enable seamless token offerings, asset structuring, and secondary market trading, providing institutional investors with greater market accessibility while ensuring regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.

The partnership is set to drive cross-border liquidity, enhance market efficiency, and unlock new investment opportunities in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), such as real estate, private equity, and alternative assets. In an industry that is still in its early stages, this strategic collaboration marks a significant step towards mainstream adoption of regulated digital asset markets.

“This strategic bridge between Hong Kong and Dubai represents more than just a partnership – it’s a gateway to seamless digital asset flows between two of Asia’s most dynamic financial centers.” said Sam Fok, Co-founder and COO of HKVAX. “Through our collaboration with Tokinvest, we’re creating new pathways for institutional investors while upholding the highest regulatory standards in both markets.”

Scott Thiel, CEO of Tokinvest, added, “Tokenisation is the future of finance, but to reach its full potential, we need strong regulatory frameworks and seamless market connectivity. This partnership with HKVAX creates a vital link between two global financial powerhouses, enabling investors to access previously untapped opportunities with greater security, liquidity, and efficiency. The future of real-world asset tokenisation is borderless, and this is just the beginning.”

UAE Savor Connect introduces AI and Blockchain ecosystem

UAE Savor Connect introduces AI and Blockchain ecosystem

Savor Connect, a food delivery and dining platform, has introduced an AI and blockchain-powered ecosystem to enhance customer engagement, streamline business operations, and promote sustainability in the food industry.

As per the announcement, the platform integrates artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and a rewards-based system to create a seamless and secure experience for restaurants, influencers, riders, and consumers.

Developed in partnership with Savour Kitchen & Cocktails and Octaloop Technologies, Savor Connect offers a technology-driven approach to food delivery and dining, prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and community engagement.

Savor Connect utilizes AI-driven insights to provide businesses with data-backed recommendations on customer preferences, allowing them to tailor promotions and enhance engagement. Consumers benefit from personalized dining suggestions, while influencers and content creators gain new monetization opportunities by sharing their experiences within the platform.

The integration of blockchain technology ensures security and transparency in transactions. The platform utilizes $SAV tokens, enabling secure, seamless, and traceable payments. Riders also benefit from AI-optimized route planning to improve delivery efficiency.

As part of its broader mission, Savor Connect introduces a food waste reduction initiative, allowing restaurants to offer surplus food at discounted rates or donate meals to individuals in need. This initiative aims to minimize food waste while making meals more accessible to underserved communities.

“Savor Connect is designed to bring efficiency, security, and inclusivity to the food industry,” said Jesse Akor, CEO & Founder of Savor Connect. “Our goal is to foster a more connected and transparent ecosystem where businesses, consumers, and influencers can thrive while also contributing to meaningful social impact.”

Restaurants and food businesses gain access to AI-driven insights, customer engagement tools, and targeted promotions.
Influencers and content creators can earn rewards for sharing dining experiences and engaging with food enthusiasts. Riders benefit from optimized delivery routes and performance-based incentives. Consumers receive exclusive deals, loyalty rewards, and personalized recommendations.

Savor Connect also introduces NFT-powered premium memberships, providing users with additional benefits such as early access to exclusive dining deals, premium influencer content, and platform-based financial services. Members can stake NFTs and $SAV tokens to access platform-based loans and flexible payment options.

UAE based Brevan Howard Digital deploys $20 million of assets on Kinto DeFi L2 platform

UAE based Brevan Howard Digital deploys $20 million of assets on Kinto DeFi L2 platform

The UAE branch of Brevan Howard Digital has deployed $20M in assets on Kinto, a Blockchain DeFi financial portal which rewards active participants such as traditional financial entities who deposit assets on-chain with token emissions.

As per the press release, Kinto enables financial institutions to deploy capital on-chain while meeting their strict legal and compliance requirements. Kinto is the only L2 that has native KYC and AML at the blockchain level, default wallet insurance and extensive security features.

Kinto’s mining program rewards active participants who deposit assets on-chain with token emissions. The mining program will be active for 10 years, with rewards decreasing over time. Brevan Howard Digital, through its Abu Dhabi branch, became one of the first major traditional financial firms to leverage its digital assets to participate in Kinto’s mining program.

Kinto’s CEO and co-founder, Ramon Recuero, believes that digital asset management platforms like Brevan Howard Digital are ahead of the curve and that participation in on-chain in programs like Kinto’s mining program will steadily increase. He expects similar institutions to become more prominent within the ecosystem over the coming months: “Institutions have been waiting for two things: regulatory clarity and compliance features. Now, through Kinto, financial institutions don’t need to wait any longer.”

Regulated crypto exchanges and wallets can advertise on google targeting UAE

Regulated crypto exchanges and wallets can advertise on google targeting UAE

Google announced that it has updated the cryptocurrencies and related products policy to clarify the scope and requirements for the advertisement of complex speculative financial products specifically in UAE. The company is allowing regulated crypto exchange and wallets to target UAE customers.

As per Google, starting February 26, 2025, advertisers offering cryptocurrency exchanges and software wallets targeting the United Arab Emirates may advertise those products and services when they meet the following requirements and are certified by Google.

The requirements are that cryptocurrency exchanges and crypto wallets targeting UAE users will need to be licensed by either the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) out of ADGM in Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), or the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) out of DIFC. It adds that any other local legal requirements must also be complied with.

Interestingly crypto exchanges or crypto wallets license out of RAK DAO were not mentioned.

In the announcement Google notes, “As a reminder, we expect all advertisers to comply with the local laws for any area that their ads target. This policy will apply globally to all accounts that advertise these financial products.”

If advertisers violate the policy their accounts will be suspended without prior warning. A warning will be issued, at least 7 days, before any suspension of account.

This means that crypto exchanges such as Binance, OKX, CoinMENA, BitOasis, Crypto.com, M2 and others will be able to start advertising campaigns on Google targeting the UAE users. It also means that crypto wallets such as HexTrust, BackPack, Liminal, Komainu and others will also be able to.