OneDegree for digital asset insurance has insured 20 companies in UAE

OneDegree for digital asset insurance has insured 20 companies in UAE

Hong Kong virtual insurer OneDegree in a recent interview with South China Morning Post noted that the company which has a regulated presence in the UAE has already signed 20 contracts insuring digital assets of companies licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority.

Companies signed up include crypto exchanges, and those who are providing trading and custody services.

Alvin Kwock Tin-Iun stated that so far no reported claims, losses or incidents among their clients have been made. He attributed the company’s success to its “cybersecurity technology and comprehensive underwriting framework”

Kwock said the company was developing new products, including mining risk insurance and smart contract wallets. In 2023, OneDegree partnered with Dubai Insurance, one of the oldest insurers in the UAE, to insure digital asset firms in the region. Over the past two years, Dubai Insurance had invested in OneDegree twice, Kwock said. He did not disclose the size of the investments.

Since 2016, the company has raised more than US$90 million in funding. “We’ve received funding every year,” Kwock said. “It’s growing every year.”

In 2024, OneDegree expanded its global reinsurance business by signing a deal with Walaa Cooperative Insurance in Saudi Arabia. Beyond the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the company said it was seeking opportunities in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. It sees the Middle East as a springboard to Africa and Europe.

DFSA starts second phase of tokenization testing license program

DFSA starts second phase of tokenization testing license program

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has started the next phase of its Tokenization Regulatory Sandbox, beginning engagement with firms selected to join its Innovation Testing License program, the DFSA’s regulatory sandbox that allows entities to test innovative financial products and services under a controlled environment.

As per the press release, The DFSA’s Tokenization Regulatory Sandbox, launched in March 2025, received 96 expressions of interest from across the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The launch of the sandbox marks a major step forward in the DFSA’s strategy to support responsible financial innovation within the DIFC and reflects its growing focus on tokenization as a transformative force in financial services.

Applications included proposals to tokenize financial assets and instruments, such as bonds (including Islamic bonds, or sukuk), units in a fund (including money market funds and property funds), and the trading and safe custody of those assets. The initiative attracted strong interest from both established financial institutions wishing to explore tokenization use cases and innovative start-ups looking to scale breakthrough digital asset solutions in a regulated environment.

Speaking at the DFSA’s Policy & Legal Roundtable, Charlotte Robins, Managing Director, Policy & Legal, said, “The global interest in our Tokenization Regulatory Sandbox signals the importance of, and growing appetite for, responsible innovation, and recognizes the appeal of DFSA’s regulatory approach to innovation. As a regulator, our role is to support innovation and its positive contribution to the financial markets in ways that maintain market integrity and protect the public interest within the DIFC. By working closely with local and global firms through the sandbox, we are encouraging responsible innovation and helping to ensure that new ideas are tested against regulatory expectations.”

Following a detailed review, applicants were assessed based on their business model, clarity of use case, and readiness to test. Some firms were invited into the sandbox for live testing under the Innovation Testing Licence, while others were considered suitable for full authorisation under existing rules due to the maturity of their operations and experience in other regulated jurisdictions.

The DFSA will now work with the firms selected for the Innovation Testing Licence to co-develop bespoke testing plans. Sandbox participants will begin trials within a controlled environment in the coming weeks. The outcomes from this cohort will help inform future regulatory policy and potential refinements to the DFSA’s evolving digital assets and broader innovation frameworks.

Bitget and UNICEF to bring blockchain to Moroccan youth

Bitget and UNICEF to bring blockchain to Moroccan youth

Bitget, cryptocurrency exchange, and UNICEF have partnered for a three year period to bring advanced digital skills and blockchain literacy to young people in eight regions globally including Morocco. Bitget will become part of UNICEF’s Office of Innovation Game Changers Coalition program and will offer blockchain training modules to teachers and blockchain skills to girls, their parents and mentors in Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, and South Africa.

Through the partnership, Bitget Academy, the educational arm of Bitget, will help develop UNICEF’s first interactive, online and in-person blockchain training module based on video games creation skills development for teachers and young people. Support from Bitget will also help expand the Coalition’s reach to a ninth country.

“This partnership reflects our shared belief that digital skills are a powerful driver of opportunity and inclusion,” said Sandra Visscher, Executive Director of UNICEF Luxembourg. “By collaborating with Bitget, we want to empower adolescent young people with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape their own futures. Innovation should be a force for inclusion, opening doors, broadening horizons, and ensuring that technology works for everyone, everywhere.”

“Emerging technologies should not be reserved for the privileged few—they must be introduced early and equitably. Blockchain, with its real-world use case and potential for social good, is one of the most powerful tools we can give to our younger generation to build products that change the way we look at modern society. With Blockchain4Her, what began as a mission to empower hundreds of women has scaled into a global movement to educate thousands of girls. This is the kind of scale and impact blockchain was built for,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

Bitget will also aim to introduce UNICEF to leading blockchain protocols and developers from across the Web3 landscape to participate in the educational initiative. These contributors could serve as mentors and partners, offering diverse perspectives and possibilities for blockchain technologies.

Every year, adolescent girls and young women in low and middle-income countries miss out on USD 15 billion in economic opportunities due to a gap in internet access and digital skills relative to their male peers. With 90 per cent of jobs today requiring digital competencies, the Game Changers Coalition responds to the urgency of closing the gender digital skills gap. Together, Bitget and UNICEF are working to build a scalable, inclusive model that equips young women with the tools to navigate and shape the digital economy of tomorrow.

As part of the Game Changers Coalition, Bitget joins the Global Video Game Coalition, Micron Foundation and ecosystem builders – Women in Games in a shared ambition to reach 1.1 million girls by 2027, with learning and skills-building opportunities.

UAE SaturnX stablecoin infrastructure provider raises $3 million

UAE SaturnX stablecoin infrastructure provider raises $3 million

UAE based SaturnX, the infrastructure provider for stablecoin-based cross-border payments, closes a $3 million seed round. The round was led by White Star Capital, with participation from strategic institutional investors. The company enables businesses and financial institutions to move money globally through an API-first platform that leverages stablecoin liquidity, smart FX routing, and regulatory-compliant payout networks. SaturnX supports cross-border payments in major remittance corridors and is rapidly expanding into Southeast Asia and Africa

Founded by Mirnas Brescic, who brings 15 years of experience in FX, treasury, and digital assets across institutions like Rain, Bitpanda and the IAEA, SaturnX serves as a behind-the-scenes API layer for B2B money transmitters, corporates and financial platforms. In just five months of operation, the company has already processed over $250 million in transaction volume, while maintaining profitability.

The capital will be used to accelerate SaturnX’s expansion into new payment corridors in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, strengthen regulatory infrastructure, and continue building its end-to-end API platform for enterprise-grade stablecoin payments.

As per the press release, with more than $600 billion in global annual remittance flows and rising demand for digital dollars in emerging markets, SaturnX is positioned to become a critical backend provider for the future of borderless payments by modernizing how money moves across borders, offering instant, low-cost stablecoin transfers for financial institutions, fintechs, and global remittance providers.

“Our vision is to connect the worlds of decentralised and traditional finance with infrastructure that brings the benefits of stablecoins to everyday financial use cases,” said Mirnas Brescic, CEO and Founder of SaturnX. “Despite considerable progress, cross-border payments are still expensive and slow. By offering a faster, cheaper, and programmable alternative, we’re helping financial partners unlock better ways to move money, starting with the world’s largest remittance corridors.”

The company pre-funds stablecoin liquidity pools in key markets, aggregates FX pricing in real time, and ensures regulatory compliance via partnerships and licensing pathways. Its flagship corridor, from the Gulf region to South Asia, collectively enables hundreds of millions in annual volume.

“We’re excited to back SaturnX at the forefront of a new payment infrastructure layer,” said Sep Alavi, General Partner at White Star Capital. “They’re operating in one of the most strategically important corridors globally, solving a massive pain point for cross-border remittances and B2B payments. Mirnas brings unmatched experience in FX, treasury, and crypto, and he’s already shown his ability to execute at speed.”

Speaking to Lara on the Block on the upcoming Genius Act for stablecoins in the USA, Brescic noted, “Regulation will bring the clarity and confidence required for a broader stablecoin adoption. It is definitely a positive development in the medium to long-term. SaturnX is stablecoin agnostic. With the regulatory clarity we see even more corporates using stablecoins to send or receive value globally. This is the market segment we want to support with our infrastructure.”


Hash AI to launch UAE crypto mining site worth $2 million

Hash AI to launch UAE crypto mining site worth $2 million

Hash AI has begun constructing a $2 million large-scale cryptocurrency mining facility in the UAE. Announced on their X channel, the company noted that the site will fully be owned by the company. Hash AI will be mining Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin and at later stages other crypto.

The AI enhanced crypto mining site will sit over 3 acres and offer 3.5 MW power with the ability to host over 1000 ASIC Miners. Hash AI expects that it will bring in revenues of $3 million annually.

The site will also include 4,000 RWA ( Real World Assets) fractions. Hash AI will make 4,000 RWA fractions from this facility available for public investment, where people can participate for as little as $500.

Hash AI noted, ” We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of a substantial plot of land in the UAE, where we will be developing an industry-leading mining facility, fully owned by $HASHAI. This expansion will allow us to scale our operations massively, significantly enhancing long-term profitability. Construction is already underway, and we are eager to share progress updates with you along the way. We look forward to unveiling the fully operational facility in July!”

Hash AI is not the first crypto mining entity to set up in UAE, there is also home grown Phoenix Group, as well as Marathon Digital.

Qatar Financial Centre to create carbon token markets

Qatar Financial Centre to create carbon token markets

As per an article in Qatar Times, The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is creating an ecosystem for tokenized carbon markets. The market will not only facilitate cross-border carbon credit movements but also enable tokens produced in various countries to be easily exchanged. “The carbon markets ecosystem will be tested within the lab environment to validate its functionality, efficiency, and potential impact on carbon offset initiatives,” the QFC said.

It was one of the innovation challenges at QFC Digital Assets Lab. The tokenisation of carbon credits is aligned with the global linking of the currently “fragmented” carbon markets, and facilitates the cross-border movement of carbon credits; the interoperability of DLT (distributed ledger technology) protocols will enable tokens produced in different countries to be easily exchanged, it added.

The objectives of creating carbon markets ecosystem are to develop and test a DLT-powered platform that facilitates the tokenisation, trading and verification of carbon credits.

“The QFC aims to collaborate with industry stakeholders to coordinate the advancement of digital utilities and platforms that enable the smooth and reliable flow of environmental, social and governance (ESG) data,” it said.

These initiatives would play a crucial role in aiding financial institutions and businesses to channel capital to sustainable projects, while also monitoring commitments and evaluating the overall impact, according to it.

“The QFC will partner with domestic and international Greentech providers and stakeholders to develop the network which will include a disclosure portal, registry, and a marketplace/exchange,” it said.

The carbon credit tokenisation involves the migration of information and features of carbon credits onto a DLT, where these credits are represented as tokens and can also be directly issued on DLT, with all associated attributes publicly accessible.

Each carbon credit corresponds to a carbon token, establishing a one-to-one relationship, it said, adding the QFC’s role is to establish the rules for the lab as well as getting approvals, monitoring participation, intervening when there is non-compliance and commercial establishment. “The QFC will support the development of the ecosystem,” it said, “in looking forward, QFC acknowledges that the digital assets landscape is constantly evolving, and innovative solutions continue to emerge.”

The endeavour would be to design carbon offsets projects in consultation with stakeholders and sells carbon credits to buyers. The QFC ecosystem would ensure setting standards for carbon credit quality, certify and issue carbon credits, and have a registry to track certified credit projects and credits issuance and retirement.

Earlier The Hashgraph Association had announced that they had partnered with Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Digital assets Lab noting that within the next 12 months it will work together with stakeholders to explore implementing five innovative use cases, in the areas of equity tokenization, Sukuk Islamic Bonds tokenization, real estate tokenization, sustainability ESG Carbon credits, as well as consumer engagement and loyalty programs.

ADGM amends crypto regulations to attract more VASPs

ADGM amends crypto regulations to attract more VASPs

The Financial Services Authority (FSRA) of ADGM has implemented amendments to its regulatory framework for digital assets. The implementation of these amendments follows extensive industry engagement and feedback received on Consultation Paper No. 11 of 2024, with an aim to make their regulations more comprehensive and simpler.

The focus of the implemented amendments is on revisions to the process whereby Virtual Assets (VAs) are accepted for use as Accepted Virtual Assets (AVAs) in ADGM, alongside appropriate capital requirements and fees for Authorised Persons conducting Regulated Activities in relation to VAs (VA Firms). The amendments also introduce a specific product intervention power in relation to VAs as well as enshrining rules that confirm our existing approach to the prohibition of using privacy tokens and algorithmic stablecoins within ADGM. Finally, the amendments expand the scope of investments in which Venture Capital Funds may invest.

The FSRA has updated the Guidance – Regulation of Virtual Asset Activities in ADGM to reflect the implemented measures and to provide further guidance to VA Firms in relation to applying the AVA assessment criteria.

Emmanuel Givanakis, Chief Executive Officer of ADGM’s FSRA said, “The implementation of these changes marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the FSRA’s framework for digital asset regulation. Through extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, we have further enhanced our framework to provide the regulatory certainty that industry participants need, while addressing the evolving risks of the digital asset ecosystem. We believe this further positions ADGM as a premier jurisdiction for digital asset-related activities and shows our commitment to fostering responsible innovation in financial services.”

Assesing the amended virtual asset regulations, Kokila Alagh noted that the amendments are a bold move to streamline digital asset regulation. She states on LinkedIN, “The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) has transitioned from a regulator-led “Accepted Virtual Asset” approval model to a self-assessment regime by authorized VA Firms.”

She explains, this means authorised Persons (VA Firms) must self-assess Virtual Assets using enhanced AVA criteria; notification-only to FSRA before commencing activity; firms must publish and maintain a list of approved AVAs on their website; and ongoing monitoring to ensure continued compliance.

She added, ” The FSRA has also enhanced the assessment criteria for determining whether a Virtual Asset meets the requirements of being an AVA. The updated criteria basis includes, *Traceability & monitoring, *Security standards, *Market profile, *Exchange connectivity, DLT infrastructure, Innovation/efficiency and Practical functionality.”

Dubai Land Department sells $1.3 million worth of tokenized real estate

Dubai Land Department sells $1.3 million worth of tokenized real estate

After two consecutive successful sales of tokenized properties in Dubai, the Dubai Land Department and PRYPCO Mint the tokenization platform behind these sales, have sold $1.3 million worth of tokenized property deeds after tallying the two tokenized property sales in past two weeks alone. This is just the beginning, as Dubai Land Department invites interested individuals to register early and set up their accounts to take advantage of upcoming offerings before they sell out.

Dubai Land Department is seeking to unlock investment opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative real estate destinations. In its first tokenized real estate project, DAMAC Maison Prive, valued at $653,000, it attracted 224 investors from over 40 nationalities, with an average investment amount of AED 10,714 ( $2900), and more than 6000 investors who were wait listed.

The latest and second property was sold in less than two minutes and attracted 149 investors from 35 nationalities. The one bedroom apartment in Kensington Waters, also worth $653,000, it was sold out in less than 2 minutes. Shares were offered at $544 with a wait list of 10,700 investors.

According to Amira Sajwani, the founder and CEO of PRYPCO “With our second property, we’re continuing to break down traditional barriers and offer high-quality opportunities to a broader, more diverse audience. At PRYPCO, our mission is to democratize property ownership, and this is just the beginning.”

In May 2025, Dubai Land Department launched the region’s first tokenized real estate investment project through the ‘Prypco Mint’ platform. The initiative was implemented in partnership with Prypco, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) through the Real Estate Sandbox.

As for blockchain technology Ctrl Alt is offering the blockchain platform using XRP Ledger, while Zand digital bank is offering banking services.

In future listings, international investors will soon be allowed to participate, but for now only UAE residents and ID holders can.

DLD emphasized in their announcement that tokenized assets will represent up to 7% of Dubai’s real estate market by 2033 equivalent to $16 billion and that Prypco Mint will be at the cornerstone of this transformation.

Saudi Arabia is also starting to pilot real estate tokenization projects.

Hoko advertising agency acquires UAE metaverse company Everdome

Hoko advertising agency acquires UAE metaverse company Everdome

Hoko Agency, known for its cutting-edge campaigns for global brands including Mercedes-Benz, DP World, Hublot, Red Bull, Zegna, and LVMH, has announced the acquisition of UAE metaverse company Everdome.

As per the press release the strategic acquisition supports the growth of HumAIn Assets, Hoko’s newest venture aimed at reimagining content creation through a fusion of human creativity, artificial intelligence, and community engagement.

Since its inception in 2022, Everdome has delivered metaverse experiences for partners such as OKX and Alpine Web3, while playing a key role in initiatives like the UAE government’s Jahiz program. Their success has been driven by a nimble, Web3-native approach, community-focused storytelling, and a deep understanding of immersive digital marketing.

Through this acquisition, Everdome’s $DOME token and core leadership team will integrate into HumAIn Assets, a platform designed to reshape the way digital content, from imagery to video to copy, is commissioned, created, and delivered.

At the helm of this initiative are Bally Singh, Chairman of Hoko Agency; Scott Melker, a leading voice in Web3 media; and Everdome CEO Jeremy Lopez, who brings extensive expertise in Web3 execution, creative marketing, and community engagement.

“Our mission is simple: to deliver scalable, high-quality content without compromising on emotional resonance, timing, or creativity,” said Bally Singh. “While AI can automate much of the process, the final layer, the taste, context, and timing, remains inherently human. That’s what elevates content from acceptable to exceptional.”

HumAIn Assets is being developed to strike the right balance, leveraging AI for speed while maintaining human oversight to ensure quality and relevance. Everdome’s expertise in rapid, high-impact storytelling and immersive campaigns makes it a powerful addition to this vision.

“Web2 unlocked the creator economy. Web3 introduced true creator ownership. AI brings unprecedented speed,” said Scott Melker, Co-founder of HumAIn Assets. “The real breakthrough lies in integrating all three to build a sustainable, creator-first system. This isn’t about hype, it’s about creating the future of content production.”

“In Web3, community isn’t a buzzword, it’s the backbone,” Melker added. “When your audience becomes your collaborators, you’re not just marketing to people, you’re building with them.”

Jeremy Lopez, CEO of Everdome, commented: “Everdome was built on the belief that digital experiences can be bold, creative, and community-led. Joining Hoko and contributing to the vision for HumAIn Assets gives us the opportunity to build lasting infrastructure for the future of the creative economy.”

With this acquisition, HumAIn Assets accelerates its ambition to combine the usability and scalability of Web2 platforms, hallmarks of companies like Uber, Fiverr, and Instagram, with the transparency, decentralized engagement, and payment systems of Web3, all enhanced by the capabilities of AI.

Currently in invite-only beta, HumAIn Assets is already delivering results for select clients. With live briefs, active production, and content delivery underway, the venture is moving beyond proof-of-concept and toward becoming a new industry standard.

The first Universal Basic Ownership pilot starts at Machine Economy Free Zone

The first Universal Basic Ownership pilot starts at Machine Economy Free Zone

peaq a global computer with borderless, decentralized, digital infrastructure for real-world apps. has partnered with Pulsar Group, an advisory firm in Abu Dhabi to launch a Machine Economy Free Zone (MEFZ), a dedicated sandbox environment for the Machine Economy in the UAE which The MEFZ will also include the world’s first pilot of “Universal Basic Ownership (UBO). To support the free zone, peaq is setting up its official HQ in the UAE to support the Machine Economy Free Zone on the ground

According to the peaq post, all around us, machines are already doing the work, driving, farming, scanning, delivering, answering our prompts. They’re creating real-world value, every second of every day. But turning the rise of the robots into a human-centric, decentralized economy — one where people can co-own, govern, and earn from the infrastructure that runs the world takes more than just code. It takes regulation, incentives, and physical and digital spaces to test and build.‍

The Machine Economy is a society in which humans and machines co-exist, co-create value, and thrive together in the Age of Abundance. It’s a human-centric economic paradigm where machines provide goods and services, earn income, and interact directly with people, businesses, and each other. Powered by AI and running on Web3, these machines can operate both autonomously and independently, generate real-world value, and share that value with the communities they serve.

The Machine Economy Free Zone sandbox will combine regulation, machine and infrastructure deployment, research, and investment in one place. A space for founders and policymakers to test, deploy, and scale new ideas for how humans and machines can build a future that works for all humans – and one day, for conscious machines too.

“We’re honored to be part of peaq’s transformative journey. peaq is redefining what’s possible for the future of the Machine Economy. By boldly bridging the physical and digital worlds through a decentralized, scalable, and sustainable Layer-1 blockchain, peaq is laying the foundation for a new era of real-world connectivity and autonomy. This is more than technology — it’s a movement, and we’re proud to help shape what comes next.” said Alyazi Al Khattal, CEO of Pulsar.
‍

Machine Economy Free Zone sandbox will focus on four key pillars

Regulation: As part of the MEFZ, peaq is working on the development and testing of a range of regulatory initiatives and sandboxes, such as compliant tokenization and investment into autonomous machines and robots.
Deployment: peaq is working with Emirati partners to set up physical and virtual sandboxes where founders can experiment with new business models and deploy apps, devices and technologies aimed at powering more advanced smart cities.
Investment: peaq is connecting top apps (DePINs) on peaq with the most visionary investment bodies and institutional partners in the region, enabling them to scale and deploy at lightning speed.
Innovation Hub: peaq is establishing a regional innovation hub focused on supporting DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) apps in research and development, deployment, and connection with organizations interested in the value these apps provide.
‍

Among the first initiatives to be tested in the MEFZ is a framework for Machine Tokenization. This framework aims to make it easy for anyone to invest in robots and machines, from autonomous vehicles to vertical farms. It’s a key piece of Machine DeFi, peaq’s vision for a decentralized financial system where people can co-own and earn from real-world machines as they operate and generate value.

The MEFZ will also include the world’s first pilot of “Universal Basic Ownership (UBO)”. UBO explores how machine-generated income can be distributed directly to the communities affected by automation. No middlemen, no red tape just machines generating value, and people receiving a share of it.

Both of these initiatives will be tested, refined, and scaled in the Machine Economy Free Zone.

‍“The Machine Economy is no longer a far-fetched dream, it is a reality quickly shaping up before our very eyes. peaq makes this transformation work for everyone and the Emirates, as one of the most innovative nations in the world, is the perfect place to pilot this vision, setting a template and example for the rest of the world”, noted Till Wendler, co-founder of peaq
‍