LIV Bank in UAE launches first crypto trading campaign

LIV Bank in UAE launches first crypto trading campaign

Liv Bank, the first digital bank in UAE, and a subsidiary of Emirates NBD on its website, has launched its first crypto trading campaign in the UAE, spurring the first outright competition between UAE banking sector and crypto exchanges.

While Liv Bank announced their foray into the crypto trading arena back in March 2025, it is only now that they outrightly showcased it on their website and announced their first campaign.

Utilizing services of both Aquanow crypto exchange in the UAE, as well as Zodia Custody services, UAE Liv Bank have showcased themselves as a trusted partner to invest in crypto. UAE Liv Bank, explains how users in the UAE can trade securely with the Liv app for fees as low as 0.5% with guided modules and the security that Emirates NBD Bank brings.

In its crypto trading campaign, Liv Bank is offering every trade placed of order value USD 50 or more one entry into each of the draws. As they noted, “The more the trades, the better your chances to win! Offering prizes of 100,000 AED during the months of May and June 2025.

Users will be able to trade crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Ripple and others.

According to Liv Bank they have simplified the crypto trading process. There are no seed phrases or downloading digital wallets, all users need to to is use the Liv app, As they note, “With Liv, you can begin with small denominations, learning and growing as you go through guided modules that are designed to help you make informed decisions.”

All users have to do is sign up or log in to the Liv X app, Click on the Wealth tab then simply click Apply on the Crypto tile, and fill out the requested details, and submit. Then users can start accessing all their crypto investments.

In March 2025, Liv digital bank a part of Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, announced the launch of their cryptocurrency offering within its mobile banking app – Liv X allowing users to buy sell custody and trade cryptocurrencies in partnership with Aquanow, a UAE regulated crypto asset exchange and Zodia Custody also regulated in the UAE.

At the time Liv digital bank noted that it was committed to introducing innovative products to its customers and this new cryptocurrency offering, with crypto infrastructure operated by Aquanow and custody services performed by Zodia Custody.

UAE Liv digital Bank by Emirate NBD to offer crypto trading and custodial services

UAE Liv digital Bank by Emirate NBD to offer crypto trading and custodial services

UAE Liv digital bank launched by Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has launched a cryptocurrency offering within its mobile banking app – Liv X allowing users to buy sell custody and trade cryptocurrencies in partnership with Aquanow, a UAE regulated crypto asset exchange and Zodia Custody also regulated in the UAE.

As per the press release, Liv digital bank is committed to introducing innovative products to its customers and this new cryptocurrency offering, with crypto infrastructure operated by Aquanow and custody services performed by Zodia Custody, will give users an intuitive experience that is straightforward and efficient to use.

Customers will be allowed to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies within the Liv X app, whilst also managing their day-to-day finances. Additionally, Liv follows robust security protocols to enable secure transactions, providing further assurance to customers. In short they will be able to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies within the Liv X app, providing them with direct access to digital assets. The offering is focused on trading and investment rather than direct payment for goods and services. The integration ensures a secure and compliant way for users to engage with digital assets within a regulated banking environment.

Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, noted, “We are excited to introduce our new cryptocurrency offering on Liv X, in partnership with Aquanow, giving customers the opportunity to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies conveniently and securely. Offering cryptocurrency on Liv X is the next step towards the overall vision of Liv being a pioneer in innovation and excellence. With the highest crypto adoption rate in the UAE, we are keen to launch our own virtual asset offering to capitalise on this trend.”

Phil Sham, Chief Executive Officer, Aquanow, said, “We are proud to partner with a storied financial institution in Emirates NBD, and excited to bring our globally deployed crypto solutions to a regional audience. Our partnership is a testament to the UAE’s emergence as a global crypto hub and is a leading example of how banks and fintech’s can collaborate to develop cutting edge, secure, and seamless product propositions that truly benefit the retail customer. Incumbent institutions like Emirates NBD will play a pivotal role in driving the next wave of digital asset adoption and Aquanow is proud to be the leading crypto provider chosen by financial institutions both here in the GCC and globally.”

The partnership with Emirates NBD focuses on integrating cryptocurrency trading within a regulated banking environment, allowing retail users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets securely through the Liv digital bank X app.

Recently Hubpay, a UAE cross-border payments platform partnered with Aquanow, to introduce the UAE’s first fully regulated crypto payments facility tailored for businesses and SMEs. In contrast to the partnership with Liv, the Hubpay partnership is centered around enabling crypto payments and cross-border transactions for businesses and SMEs. While both collaborations leverage Aquanow’s infrastructure, the ENBD partnership emphasizes retail crypto trading within a banking framework, whereas Hubpay focuses on payment solutions.

Aquanow and Hubpay partner for crypto convergence payments in UAE

Aquanow and Hubpay partner for crypto convergence payments in UAE

Hubpay, a UAE cross-border payments platform, has partnered with UAE regulated Aquanow, a global digital asset infrastructure provider, to introduce the UAE’s first fully regulated crypto payments facility tailored for businesses and SMEs. This collaboration will allow businesses across various sectors – including real estate, manufacturing, and general trading to accept cryptocurrency payments securely and seamlessly alongside traditional fiat transactions.

Aquanow ME regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (“VARA”), and Hubpay also regulated by the Financial Service Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”), in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”) will lpartner Hubpay’s platform powered by Aquanow can offer regulated crypto payments for UAE businesses globally.

By integrating Aquanow’s digital asset infrastructure with Hubpay’s regulated payment network, both local and global users can seamlessly transact in cryptocurrencies within a familiar payments environment.

Speaking to Lara on the Block, spokesperson for HubPay explained, ” Crypto can be exchanged to fiat via Over the counter crypto exchanges or migrated to respective crypto wallets and transferred into USDT or fiat. This integration adds crypto as a payment mode, like credit card, debit card under VARA stipulated regulations via tradfi payment interface.”

Speaking on the partnership, Kevin Kilty, CEO and Founder of Hubpay stated “We are thrilled to partner with Aquanow to launch the UAE’s first fully regulated crypto payment gateway for businesses. Stablecoins are a game-changer, combining the security of traditional currencies with the speed of digital assets. By integrating Aquanow’s infrastructure with our regulated network, we’re empowering businesses to transact seamlessly in both fiat and crypto—advancing the UAE’s agenda to drive economic diversification, foster fintech innovation, and position itself as a global hub for digital assets.”

“We’re excited to collaborate with Hubpay to bring real-world utility to digital assets in the MENA region,” said Phil Sham, CEO of Aquanow. “Cryptocurrency is no longer just an investment tool. It’s a practical, efficient means of conducting high-value transactions. By integrating our technology with Hubpay’s regulated payments framework, we are removing friction from large-scale transactions for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.”

Both partners believe that real estate and SME sector will benefit the most from this partnership.

Arab Financial Services and Ternoa also to offer crypto payments in UAE

The Aquanow Hubpay announcement comes days after Arab Financial Services (AFS), regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and Egypt, also holding a retail payment license in the UAE partnered with Ternoa Blockchain to launch stablecoin and crypto payments across POS ( Point of Service) counters for UAE merchants.

UAE regulated crypto provider partners with Zodia for custody solutions

UAE regulated crypto provider partners with Zodia for custody solutions

Aquanow, a global crypto infrastructure provider trusted by 300+ clients, has partnered with  Zodia Custody, a leading institution-first digital asset custodian backed by Standard Chartered, SBI Holdings, Northern Trust, and National Australia Bank, to offer enterprise custody solutions for its clients.

The partnership will see Zodia Custody provide its enterprise custody solutions, which are trusted by globally recognized financial institutions, for Aquanow’s expansion across UAE and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region region. By leveraging Zodia Custody’s enterprise technology solutions, this custody partnership will allow the crypto provider to ensure that it meets the institutional-grade cold storage demands required by banks, neobanks, and other top-tier financial institutions.

Last month, Aquanow announced that it had secured full operational approval for its Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA). The approval has positioned the company to begin enabling crypto services in partnership with major financial institutions across the Middle East.

“Together with Aquanow, we’ll be playing our part in building the infrastructure that local and global institutions need in order to capitalize on the digital asset opportunities in the Middle East.” said Julian Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer, Zodia Custody. “And the foundations of that ecosystem begin with efficient, secure custody. This is where our partnership with Aquanow is a leap forward in building the UAE’s digital asset ecosystem.”

“As we enter the next phase of our growth and begin expanding across the Middle East, we’re proud to be partnering with Zodia Custody for digital asset custody solutions,” said Phil Sham, CEO of Aquanow. “This partnership provides us with the enterprise custody solutions trusted by even the most demanding financial institutions, ensuring that digital assets accessed through their platform are both safe and readily available.”