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 Digital Bank implements Infosys Finacle on Microsoft Azure to integrate TradFi and DeFi

UAE Digital Bank implements Infosys Finacle on Microsoft Azure to integrate TradFi and DeFi

Infosys an Indian multinational technology company that offers business consulting, information technology, and outsourcing services, utilizing its Finacle product offering on Microsoft Azure has provided the first digital bank in UAE (they did not name the bank), which could be Liv Bank, a subsidiary of Emirates NBD, given it has publicized itself as being the first digital bank in the UAE, with Finacle on Cloud, a cloud-native solution that accelerates cloud adoption which works to toward digital banking, integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) into their operations.

As per a Microsoft blog post, the first licensed digital bank in the UAE, aimed to tap into the power of advanced data capabilities to simplify and upgrade the customer experience and provide secure, reliable, and innovative solutions through blockchain and AI technologies. After evaluating various technology platforms, looking for capabilities that would help them successfully integrate traditional finance (TradFi) and DeFi. Their ultimate goal being to redefine the banking landscape by streamlining financial services and integrating AI and blockchain technologies into their operations. To accomplish this, they were seeking a composable architectural design and event-driven API on a cloud-native platform that offered agility and security.

The blog adds, ” Ultimately, after comparing many solutions, they decided they wanted to go beyond the traditionally defined core systems so many financial institutions rely on, and they instead adopted Finacle on Microsoft Azure, thanks to its functional richness, market-specific experience, long-term viability, operational performance, total cost of ownership (TCO), and flexibility.”

“A customer-centric revolution is reshaping corporate banking,” said Sriranga N. Sampathkumar, VP and GM – Middle East and Africa, at Infosys. “This bank is spearheading this change with AI, actively shaping the future of banking through innovation and the strategic integration of digital assets.”


Sampathkumar explained, “The bank’s swift evolution from a digital to an AI-driven bank was made possible by the seamless deployment of the Finacle on Azure.”

Using Finacle the bank can process a vast amount of data and perform sophisticated analytics—all resulting in the ability to innovate and integrate emergent technologies like AI, blockchain, and digital asset management and sit at the forefront of the digital banking evolution.

They also report that Microsoft Azure has been a crucial part of their solution; choosing Azure has reportedly provided them with a high-performing, scalable, and secure foundation upon which to build the bank of the future. The bank has active connectivity and immediate recovery from one site to another, due to the cloud footprint offered by Azure, including Microsoft datacenters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“By using the combined strength of Finacle’s innovative solution suite and Microsoft Azure’s robust cloud platform, this digital bank delivers a distinct, world-class experience, showcasing the essential agility, flexibility, and resilience needed to transform banking,” Sampathkumar said.

This comes as the UAE Bank Federation showcases how UAE banks are moving into the smart banking era with AI and Blockchain technologies among others.

UAE Haifin adds a new member to its Blockchain fraud platform

UAE Haifin adds a new member to its Blockchain fraud platform

Once again, UAE based Haifin, an e& enterprise company (part of e&) formerly known as UAE Trade Connect offering Blockchain enabled trade financing platform has onboarded a new member, Egyptian and UAE based FlapKap, which offers lending solutions to SMEs ( Small and Medium Sized Enterprises).

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. In January 2025, Haifin announced that it processed  $40.8 billion of transactions (150 billion AED).

Jul Zavaid, CEO of Haifin noted on LinkedIn, ” We are excited to announce that FlapKap has joined thehaifin consortium – to derisk their own lending and also that of the wider community. We at haifin, an e& enterprise company can see firsthand the shifting sands in the SME lending environment, as hashtag#fintechs step in to complement and supplement what banks do for the UAE economy.”

Recently Haifin partnered with Bahrain’s Financial entity BENEFIT.

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.

In December 2023, Beehive, a peer-to-peer lending platform, became the second non-banking entity to join Blockchain enabled UAE Trade Connect platform, Haifin. Prior to that, DP World Finance platform partnered with UAE trade Connect in November of the same year.

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.

Limited a premium global banking service for stablecoin holders has raised $3 million

Limited a premium global banking service for stablecoin holders has raised $3 million

Founded by Hussein Ahmed originally from Egypt, Limited, a next-generation fintech startup offering stablecoin-based premium global banking services, has raised a $3 million pre-seed funding round led by Third Prime, with participation from The House Fund and Arche Capital.

As per the press release, the company, aims to transform how businesses and consumers worldwide interact with money by merging the best of crypto technology with the familiarity of traditional banking—minus the institutional vulnerabilities seen in failing banks or centralized exchanges.
Stablecoins have seen meteoric growth in recent years, with on-chain transaction volumes exceeding $12 trillion in 2024, far outpacing major payment networks like Visa. By placing assets in self-custody wallets, Limited users retain complete control of their funds—safeguarding them from the risks of bank collapses or platform failures.

“We believe financial services, while sometimes perceived as boring or soulless, are deeply personal,” said Hussein Ahmed, Limited’s founder and CEO. “Money is a huge part of our lives—both for businesses and individuals—and should be managed thoughtfully and elegantly. We took the best aspects of stablecoins—speed, low cost, self-custody—and merged them with a user experience similar to, and even better than, traditional banks, so our customers can stay protected, enjoy global access, and avoid the pitfalls of failed institutions.”

Third Prime, a New York and Nashville-based venture capital firm whose portfolio includes prominent fintech and crypto players like Circle, Chime, Octane, Kafene and Yellow Card led the $3 million round.

Its Co-founder and General Partner, Wes Barton, underscored the timing, “Limited’s unique approach—secure self-custody stablecoins, global banking accessibility, and a frictionless user experience—aligns perfectly with our thesis that the future of finance is decentralized, trusted, and user-centric. We have seen Hussein’s track record in building great products, and we’re convinced Limited can reshape global financial services.”

Co-leading the round with Third Prime is The House Fund, a UC Berkeley–focused venture firm founded by Jeremy Fiance—who was also an early investor in Hussein’s previous venture, Oxygen—alongside other prominent crypto and FinTech founders. Hussein originally founded Oxygen and grew it to over one million accounts. While Oxygen focused on the U.S. market leveraging traditional banking rails, Limited takes that vision a step further by integrating stablecoins and self-custody into the day-to-day global banking experience.

“We’ve witnessed Hussein’s drive to simplify complex finance solutions throughout his time at UC Berkeley Haas and with Oxygen,” said Jeremy. “Limited brings accessibility, security, and speed to a global audience.” The House Fund has also backed leading AI and FinTech infrastructure innovators, including Databricks, Perplexity, and Flexport.

Arche Capital, backed by major LPs with a focus on the intersection of crypto and fintech, also participated in the raise.

“Limited combines stability, transparency, and practical innovation to solve a critical challenge in global finance,” said Vanessa Grellet. “While many solutions remain fragmented and complicated, Limited stands out by making cross-border transactions faster, more affordable, and truly self-directed,” added William Wolf.

Inspired in part by the American Express model, Limited offers premium Visa and MasterCard options worldwide, their own, spanning White, Silver, and Gold tiers, and also enables co-branded card programs for brands seeking a global footprint. This approach lets partners easily design, launch, and fully manage customized cards that significantly boost customer engagement and loyalty—unlike typical co-branded offerings that are restricted to local or regional deployments.

Limited caters to high-end users. The Limited Gold Card comes with 24/7 global concierge services, exclusive perks like complimentary breakfasts at luxury hotels (including the Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental), free rental days at Hertz, and top-tier travel experiences that rival the best in the market. Simultaneously, the company supports instant, near-zero-fee cross-border payments in over 140 countries, using more than 300 local payment methods (such as WeChat, Pix, SPEI, GrabPay, and others) across 80 currencies.

Limited operates globally—excluding sanctioned and restricted jurisdictions—and aims to position itself as the go-to solution for businesses, entrepreneurs, and individual customers seeking a stable and efficient alternative to conventional banking.

Abu Dhabi regulated digital asset bank, Sygnum now valued at $1 billion

Abu Dhabi regulated digital asset bank, Sygnum now valued at $1 billion

Abu Dhabi licensed, global digital asset banking group Sygnum has raised a total of $58 million in its oversubscribed Strategic Growth Round, giving it a post-money valuation of more than 1 billion.

Fulgur Ventures, cornerstone investor in the final close of Sygnum’s Strategic Growth Round, is a venture capital firm focusing on Bitcoin technologies, infrastructure and applications that drive Bitcoin adoption. Fulgur is joined by new and existing strategic and financial investors, as well as Sygnum team members again participating on equal terms. The Co-Founders, board and team members continue to hold Sygnum majority ownership.

Funds will support expansion

Proceeds from the completed Strategic Growth Round will be put to work to drive Sygnum’s 2025 expanded EU/EEA market entry and to launch its regulated presence in Hong Kong. Sygnum also intends to use the funds to broaden its institutional infrastructure, expand its product portfolio with a focus on Bitcoin-technology, and enable opportunities for strategic acquisitions as the market develops.

A key driver of the oversubscribed Strategic Growth Round was the bank’s multi-year core business growth. 2024 revenues for all trading products, including crypto spot, derivatives, FX and traditional securities, surpassed the previous year’s total in Q3 for the second year running. Total annual trades in 2024 increased by more than 1,000% YoY, propelled by PostFinance and the 20+ banks on its B2B platform providing regulated crypto services to more than a third of the Swiss population.

Mathias Imbach, Sygnum Co-Founder and Group CEO, noted, “Sygnum reaching Unicorn status is a strong validation by the market of our business model, strategy and team. While it is an achievement we are very proud of, it won’t alter the values of integrity and humility, and the importance of displaying confidence without attitude at all times, which have acted as our true-north since day one. As Switzerland is currently losing ground to other jurisdictions as a preferred digital asset hub, it is also our obligation to highlight the need for Switzerland to not ignore the importance of continuous innovation in the financial sector and to continue to attract talent and capital to remain relevant in the long-term. In that way, our mission is only at the very beginning.”

Gerald Goh, Co-Founder and CEO APAC, said, “The successful completion of our Strategic Growth Round is proof of Sygnum’s strong and unique position as a leading regulated financial institution in the global digital asset industry. Offering trusted institutional infrastructure and regulated services for digital assets will continue to be the foundation for Sygnum’s future growth strategy.”

Oleg Mikhalsky, Partner of Fulgur Ventures, added, “Fulgur is a venture capital firm that continues to drive investment into the accelerating convergence of Bitcoin and institutional financial markets. Sygnum’s market-tested infrastructure, digital asset-native team and global ecosystem makes them the ideal partner to co-develop innovative Bitcoin-related financial products and technologies – as well as for future collaborations with other Fulgur portfolio companies. We are proud to be the cornerstone investor for the final close of Sygnum’s Strategic Growth Round, which coincides with a potential inflection point for Bitcoin’s institutional adoption and regulatory clarity.”

In FY 2024, Sygnum achieved operational profitability and continued to grow its 2,000-strong institutional client base domiciled in over 70 countries, serviced through its regulated operations in Switzerland, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The group is also regulated in the established global financial hubs of Luxembourg and was recently registered Liechtenstein.

UAE Haifin, trade finance fraud platform announces $40.8 billion worth of transactions

UAE Haifin, trade finance fraud platform announces $40.8 billion worth of transactions

Haifin, previously known as UAE Trade Connect, an AI blockchain platform to combat trade finance fraud among the banking sector and non-banking sector, has announced a record-breaking year with nearly $40.8 billion of transactions (150 billion AED).

According to Zul Javaid, CEO of Haifin in a LinkedIn post, “ We identified and prevented hundreds of millions of Dirhams of duplicate financing and fraud for our member involved in lending.”

UAE Trade Connect (UTC), Launched in 2021, was co-created by e& enterprise and the UAE banking industry and offers a technology solution to detect suspicious transactions and prevent fraud and duplication in real time. It uses technologies such as AI, Blockchain and machine learning.

Juvaid added, “Big shout out to our steering committee and wider consortium for their trust and commitment to de-risking the lending environment and increasing accessibility to finance for the UAE economy.”

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.

In December 2023, Beehive, a peer-to-peer lending platform, became the second non-banking entity to join Blockchain enabled UAE Trade Connect platform, Haifin. Priort to that, DP World Finance platform partnered with UAE trade Connect in November of the same year.

Zul Javaid expressed his interest in expanding Haifin offering to countries across the GCC and MENA regions, including KSA hiring Wissam Massud to lead their international expansion in 2023.

UAE Zand bank signs up new collaboration

UAE Zand bank signs up new collaboration

UAE fully licensed digital bank Zand, has yet again signed up a new collaboration. This time it is with UAE Web3 financing platform Klickl. This comes weeks after Zand Bank announced that it was launching its licensed digital asset custody services. This came after receiving approval from the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority. In addition Zand announced it would be launching Zand’s AED-backed stablecoin which will further enhance the bank’s ability to integrate TradFi and DeFi, reinforcing its leadership in the digital assets landscape.

In 2023, UAE based Abu Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Zand Bank, partnered to offer preferential banking services and efficient bank account opening for ADGM-licensed entities, including SMEs, virtual assets companies, funds, and corporations. Since then it has become the go to bank for crypto exchanges, and other Web3 entities when it comes to crypto banking related services.

By leveraging Zand’s banking products and solutions, Klickl is poised to streamline its business processes, optimize financial management, and drive innovation within the Web3 ecosystem.

Michael Chan, CEO of Zand, commented, “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Klickl International, aligning with the UAE’s bold vision to accelerate the digital economy. At Zand, we are dedicated to delivering seamless and secure banking experiences through continuous innovation, forward-thinking, and a client-first approach.”

Michael Zhao, CEO of Klickl International, added, “Partnering with Zand Bank marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards reshaping the digital finance landscape. With Zand’s support, we are unlocking new possibilities for businesses and consumers, driving meaningful change in the industry.”

Web3 Bank Klickl headquartered in UAE raises $25 million

Web3 Bank Klickl headquartered in UAE raises $25 million

UAE regulated Klickl International offering Web3 banking services, has closed an oversubscribed $25 million Series A funding round. This latest achievement brings Klickl’s valuation to $125 million.

The round was co-led by prominent Web3 investors Web3Port Foundation and Aptos Labs, joined by notable participants including Summer Ventures, Heritage Horizon Capital, V2 Capital, Alpha Square Group, Heng Feng Group, Trend Investment, and Bond Group.

This funding milestone positions the Web3 Blockchain enabled bank for accelerated growth in the burgeoning global Web3 banking space. Klickl Labs will spearhead strategic joint ventures leveraging its Web3 banking services, virtual asset servicing, and crypto payments/brokerage platform, targeting high-growth markets in the Middle East and Africa and act as an incubator for high-impact ventures, fostering scalable solutions in cross-border remittance and digital payment infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Klickl Foundation will channel investments into the Klickl Web3 ecosystem, setting new benchmarks for the PayFi industry.

Web3Port Foundation, a renowned investment and accelerator platform supporting over 1,000 Web3 projects, will play a pivotal role in Klickl’s expansion. As a founding strategic partner, Web3Port will serve as a Limited Partner for the Klickl Foundation’s Web3 Fund and leverage its expertise in tokenomics to drive mass adoption of Web3 technologies.

Bobby Zhou, Chairman of Web3Port UAE, commented, “We are thrilled to support Klickl in its journey to redefine global Web3 banking services. This partnership also marks a significant step in our UAE expansion strategy. In 2024, Web3Port has partnered with RPG Holdings in Abu Dhabi and 19 leading VC firms to establish a stronger Web3 presence in the UAE. Together with local government and regulators, we aim to foster rapid innovation and community growth in the Web3 ecosystem.”

The Aptos Network is a Layer 1 blockchain, renowned for its breakthrough technology and Move programming language. Aptos Network is designed to continuously evolve, deliver exceptional performance, and reinforce user security safeguards. It is the first blockchain to achieve sub-second end-to-end (E2E) latency, setting a new standard in blockchain performance.

Michael Zhao, Founder and CEO of Klickl, stated,“The support from Web3Port Foundation, Aptos Labs, and our long-term investors — including Summer Ventures, Heritage Horizon Capital, V2 Capital, Alpha Square Group, Heng Feng Group, Trend Investment, and Bond Group— highlights the strength of our vision. This funding empowers us to expand our Web3 banking services, focusing on emerging markets across MENA and beyond. We are especially grateful to the local authorities for their forward-thinking regulatory support under ADGM, which has been instrumental in positioning Klickl as the region’s first fully licensed Web3 banking service, offering crypto custody and brokerage solutions.”

Revolut hires Ambareen Musa as CEO of UAE entity

Revolut hires Ambareen Musa as CEO of UAE entity

After news that Revolut whose global mission is for every person and business to do all things money — spending, saving, investing, borrowing, managing, and more — in just a few taps, had applied to the UAE’s central bank for an electronic-money institution license to offer remittance services, with the ultimate goal of securing a full banking license, similar to the one it recently obtained in the UK, and of Mubadala’s investment in Revolut, Revolut has appointed its CEO for UAE.

Ambareen Musa announced on Linkedin, that she is now the CEO of Revolut UAE. She noted, “Very excited to share that I am taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer – UAE at Revolut!” Ambareen was previously the Founder and CEO of Souqalmal, which was the first regional online comparison site for financial and non-financial consumer products.
This is not the first appointment for Revolut in UAE, the company has been hiring key roles in finance, legal, compliance, crypto, engineering, and product development in Dubai.

Founded in 2015, Revolut began as a multi-currency prepaid card and app, evolving into a financial super-app offering services from international transfers to stock trading. It now serves over 45 million personal and 500k business customers globally.

Revolut also offers its users crypto services in its mix of offerings, trading, transferring and others. It offers 210+ carefully vetted tokens
All tokens as per the website pass stringent checks before being listed. Revolut crypto offers allows users to move BTC, ETH, USDT and 30+ other tokens between their wallets.

Revolut first entered the UAE in 2022, establishing a team of 140 at the Dubai International Financial Centre. CEO Nik Storonsky has long aimed to enter the Gulf market, though licensing challenges have previously restricted UAE residents from opening accounts.

Alongside its UAE ambitions, Revolut is also eyeing neighbouring Saudi Arabia as a growth market.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign wealth fund is expected to help Revolut secure regulatory approvals, aiding in its pursuit of a full banking license in the UAE.

Revolut has seen its valuation rise to $45bn after Mubadala, Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund acquired a stake in the company. According to the Financial Times, the deal will see Revolut founder Nik Storonsky collect a minimum of $200m.

Revolut employees sold $500m worth of shares in August with Storonsky accounting for around half of the share sale.

Mubadala was one of the investors to purchase the shares, along with DI Capital Partners, Tiger Global and Coatue, although it is not clear how many shares Mubadala purchased or the size of its stake.