UAE Zand Bank enters the realm of Blockchain and AI

UAE Zand Bank enters the realm of Blockchain and AI

UAE Zand Bank, UAE’s first digital only bank has subscribed to Infosys Finacle Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infosys suite to power its corporate banking services and enable it to innovate and integrate solutions on Blockchain and AI.

The deployment of Infosys Finacle’s advanced cloud-native solutions on Microsoft Azure is a testament to Zand’s commitment to provide a customer-centric, future-ready banking experience, underpinned by the latest in AI and predictive analytics.

The Finacle Corporate Banking Solution Suite’s modular framework and expansive suite of features, including an array of Open APIs, will significantly accelerate the launch of innovative services, supporting Zand’s objective of continuous innovation and commitment to customer delight.

Infosys Finacle enables Zand’s capability to assimilate and process a vast array of data, equips it to partner with sophisticated analytics platforms, thereby offering cutting-edge services to its customers.

The collaboration enables Zand to innovate and integrate emergent technologies like AI, blockchain, and digital asset management and drive a competitive advantage in the evolving landscape of digital finance.

Michael Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Zand, said, “We are delighted to announce our adoption of the Finacle modular core banking system. This strategic move empowers us to fortify our position at the forefront of innovation, enabling seamless deployment of digital assets, AI, and blockchain technologies. Embracing the future, we are poised to redefine banking experiences and drive unparalleled value for our customers.”

Sajit Vijayakumar, Chief Business Officer, Infosys Finacle, said, “A digital revolution is shaking up the corporate banking sector, paving the way for modern, customer-centric models. We are delighted that Zand, as a trailblazer in this domain, has chosen Infosys Finacle for their ambitious project to redefine corporate banking excellence. We are committed to enabling Zand, fast-track its journey towards offering differentiated customer-centric and world-class corporate banking services. Our collaboration with the bank is yet another testimony to the flexibility of the Infosys Finacle Corporate Banking Suite and the enduring trust that banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council place in us.”

ZAND Bank and ADGM partnered sometime back to offer preferential services to virtual asset service providers.

XDC Blockchain and IFTA to hold digital assets trade workshop in UAE

XDC Blockchain and IFTA to hold digital assets trade workshop in UAE

IFTA (The International Trade and Forfaiting Association) and XDC Blockchain network will be holding a fintech workshop entitled “Use of Digital assets across Trade Origination and Distribution. The event will be held in Dubai UAE on February 22nd at Emirates Financial Towers.

As per the X feed, the workshop is tailored to IFT members, banks, credit insurers, fintech companies and law firms as well as policy makers, corporates, alternative lenders, family offices, asset managers, and logistics operators.

The topics covered will include MLETR policy developments, digital negotiable instruments, and real-time loan transactions and how tokenization and digital assets are revolutionizing the trade finance and lending practices.

Trade Finance has picked up interest not only from the UAE government but also the banking sector. In September 2023, UAE based Emirates NBD invested in Blockchain enabled Komgo, trade finance platform. As per the press release, the strategic equity investment was made by Emirates NBD’s Innovation Fund, the Bank’s corporate venture fund.  The fund created in early 2023, aims to strengthen synergies from strategic partnerships by combining the Bank’s digital ambitions and regional expertise with the agility and technological innovations of fintech companies.

In addition, Blockchain trade finance platform for banks in the UAE, UAE Trade Connect, an e&enterprise company has announced that it has surpassed $27 million in transactions identifying interbank duplicate financing and preventing fraud attempts.

In December 2023, UAE based InvoiceMate, a blockchain enabled invoice financing platform, tokenized a real world asset, an invoice, using the XDC blockchain in its recent pilot. The project used TradeFinex’S open source smart contract standards.

Earlier this year, Dubai’s virtual asset regulator (VARA) announced its plans for 2024 which will include enhancements to its regulatory infrastructure with introduction of real world use cases for tokenized fractionalized market participation using Blockchain as well as TradeFi, DeFi regulations while it has phased out its MVP licensing program

Finally and most importantly the UAE government is supporting tradeFi and the utilization of digital assets. At Davos in January, the UAE government signed an MOU with WEF (World Economic Forum) to support UAE’s new Blockchain and AI enabled Trade Tech initiative. The initiative is designed to accelerate the digitization of international supply chains, enhance customs procedures, and improve developing countries’ access to the global trading system and, as a result, spur a new era of trade growth.

So it seems that this workshop and definitely others to come, are opportune for learning more about the connections between Trade sector and digital assets.

Commercial Bank International enters the world of digital asset payments

Commercial Bank International enters the world of digital asset payments

UAE based Commercial Bank International PJSC (‘CBI’), a corporate and retail bank headquartered in Dubai, and Fuze, MENA’s digital asset infrastructure provider, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow both parties to jointly explore digital assets use cases under the comprehensive regulatory frameworks of the UAE.

The agreement between CBI and Fuze provides the foundations for innovative new use cases that leverage the potential of blockchain and digital assets, including investments and payments. Leveraging CBI’s extensive and robust track record in business and personal finance, with Fuze’s cutting-edge digital assets infrastructure and expertise, the two parties will collaborate to develop a suite of digital asset and blockchain products.

Driving this agreement is an underlying demand from customers for safe and regulated digital assets platforms. The collaboration emphasises responsible innovation and as a regulated business, Fuze is committed to structuring compliant products that foster trust and confidence in the UAE’s digital asset ecosystem.

On the occasion of the MoU signing, Giovanni Everduin, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer of Commercial Bank International (CBI) stated, “Pooling the knowledge, expertise and resources of CBI and Fuze will help us explore a range of innovative new digital assets use cases for business and personal finance. This agreement will bring our customers closer to the many opportunities of digital assets, within a safe and regulated environment, in line with the UAE’s world-class virtual assets regulations. The signing of this MoU marks CBI’s commitment to furthering innovation and aligns perfectly with the UAE Government’s prioritisation of innovation as a pivotal force for driving positive change and economic development”.

Mohammed Ali Yusuf (Mo Ali Yusuf), CEO and Co-Founder of Fuze, added, “We’re thrilled to support CBI in connecting customers with future-facing financial products through the power of blockchain infrastructure. Collaborating with CBI marks a significant milestone for digital assets in the UAE. We look forward to supporting the Bank in providing greater financial accessibility and empowerment for their customers through powerful digital assets and cryptocurrency use cases”.

In December 2023, Fuze which had recently received a license from Dubai’s regulator, signed a similar MOU with UAE Fardan Exchange to allow the exchange to offer digital asset products such as buying, selling and transfer.

The Central Bank of UAE makes first official CBDC transaction to China

The Central Bank of UAE makes first official CBDC transaction to China

According to WAM news agency, as part of UAE’s Central Bank 50th anniversary, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), made the first ever CBDC, digital currency cross border payment transaction to China utilizing the Mbridge Blockchain platform.

This amounts to a $13.6 million transaction sent directly to China through the ‘BIS M Bridge’ platform DLT.

Prior to this, The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the People’s Bank of China signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to enhance technical and technological cooperation in the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDC), going beyond initial collaboration on mBridge CBDC project.

In September 2023, during a speech given by Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) CEO Eddie Yue, he discussed the whole sale CBDC ( Central Bank Digital Currency) project Mbridge stating that the launch of a minimal viable product ( MVP) would be soon, with participation of UAE Central Bank, Bank of China, BIS, Bank of Thailand and some new entrants.

The UAE Central Bank officials had called for a comprehensive regulatory framework for central digital currencies that would facilitate, accelerate and reduce the cost of cross border monetary operations.

R3 was chosen by UAE Central Bank as its technology partner to design and build a CBDC for the first phase of the central bank’s CBDC project because it is a permissioned based DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) that decentralize assets privately and works well in regulated industries, but more importantly is its interoperability and asset fluidity.

Sheikh Mansour also witnessed the graduation of the first batch of 1,056 citizens from the ‘Ethraa’ program, who completed a high-level training and qualification program at the Emirates Institute of Finance.

The ceremony showcased the progress and development journey that the CBUAE has witnessed over 50 years, during which the apex bank has contributed to strengthening financial and monetary stability and driving the wheel of economic growth in the UAE. This is in addition to launching a package of innovative projects implemented by the Central Bank’s subsidiaries within the Financial Infrastructure Transformation Program (FIT program) to accelerate the digital transformation in the financial services sector as part of a wider strategy aimed at enabling the CBUAE to be among the top central banks globally.

Egyptian ADCB bank appoints blockchain expert to lead digital transformation

Egyptian ADCB bank appoints blockchain expert to lead digital transformation

Egypt’s Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Egypt (ADCB) appoints blockchain expert, Ahmed Adel Mansour as the Head of Digital Transformation and Banking Services Development. The appointment is  part of its new phase that coincides with the launch of its five-year strategy until 2028. The strategy aims to create a qualitative shift in digital development and banking services, with the vision of being the best bank for its customers.

Mansour, who holds a PhD in financial technology and blockchain, has more than 23 years of banking experience, and a strong background in technology, transformation strategies, innovation, and business growth. He has held many positions of success, the most recent of which was the General Secretary and Assistant Chairman of the Board of Directors for Strategy at the Egyptian Post Authority. He also held several strategic positions in high-level bodies.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Egypt (ADCB) has announced the appointment of Ahmed Adel Mansour as the Head of Digital Transformation and Banking Services Development, as part of its new phase that coincides with the launch of its five-year strategy until 2028. The strategy aims to create a qualitative shift in digital development and banking services, with the vision of being the best bank for its customers.

Mansour has more than 23 years of banking experience, and a strong background in technology, transformation strategies, innovation, and business growth. He has held many positions of success, the most recent of which was the General Secretary and Assistant Chairman of the Board of Directors for Strategy at the Egyptian Post Authority. He also held several strategic positions in high-level bodies. Dr. Mansour has extensive experience in financial management, technology infrastructure, and digital program implementation. He holds a doctorate in financial technology and blockchain.

Mansour will oversee the sectors of digital transformation, banking operations, technology, and information systems, in a new step to continue the significant growth that ADCB has achieved in a short period, thanks to the efforts of the existing team of experts and the introduction of a new integrated vision for developing and digitizing banking operations and services, to achieve customer satisfaction, enhance their banking experience, and provide innovative solutions that meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

ADCB was one of the first banks in the UAE to join Blockchain enabled UAE Trade Connect to deal with fraud in invoices.

non-banking entity joins Blockchain UAE Trade Connect platform

non-banking entity joins Blockchain UAE Trade Connect platform

Beehive, a peer to peer lending platform, has become the second non-banking entity to join Blockchain enabled UAE Trade Connect platform. DP World Finance platform partnered with UAE trade Connect in November.

Beehive is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). It has rapidly grown into a leading disruptor in the fintech industry, providing an alternative finance solution for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the ever-growing lending ecosystem.

Beehive recently signed off with UAE Trade Connect (UTC) as its newest member and second non-bank entity to join its consortium. This strategic alliance is set to enhance trade finance operations and fortify the fight against fraud in the UAE. Beehive will leverage UTC’s platform to detect fraudulent and suspicious invoices and mitigate duplicate financing risks against bank invoices, leading to more flow of working capital finance for its customers.

Craig Moore, CEO and Founder of Beehive, said: “By joining the UTC platform, Beehive underscores its dedication to transparency and security in financial processes. We aim to revolutionize peer-to-peer lending alongside other UTC members by infusing greater transparency into the lending ecosystem.”

Zul Javaid, CEO of UTC, commented: “FinTech’s have emerged as a welcome addition in the GCC region enriching the financial landscape by providing innovative alternatives to traditional lending processes. With Beehive in our consortium this means that their working capital lending will be presented to our system daily, in real time, and will serve to de-risk their invoices as well as those of our member banks.”

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.

This highly scalable advanced platform is completely cloud-native and incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The consortium currently houses 14 members which includes banks and NBFI’s while additional financial intuitions are piloting the platform.

Invest Bank became the 13th bank to join UAE Trade Connect which is paving the way for a secure, efficient and technologically advanced trade finance landscape in October.

Binance executes first crypto triparty agreement with a bank partner

Binance executes first crypto triparty agreement with a bank partner

Binance in a recent press release dated November 30th 2023 and coming out of Dubai UAE has announced that it has successfully executed the world’s first cryptocurrency triparty arrangement with a third party banking partner. As per the release, the solution enables institutional investors to keep trading collateral, off-exchange in the custody of a third party banking partner. This is the first in a series of pilot projects initiated by Binance, which is currently the only cryptocurrency exchange offering such a solution.

Binance does not mention the name of the bank, but states that this arrangement directly tackles the issue of counterparty risk, the primary concern for institutional investors today. It replicates a framework common in traditional financial markets, which enables investors to proportion their crypto-asset allocation based on their risk tolerance. Collateral held with the banking partner can be in the form of fiat equivalent such as Treasury Bills which has the added benefit of being a yielding asset.

Catherine Chen, Head of VIP and Institutional at Binance, said, “Counterparty risk has long been a concern of institutional investors across the industry. Our team of crypto natives and traditional finance professionals has been exploring a banking triparty agreement for more than a year to address their concern. We’ve developed a solution that ensures our institutional clients can optimize their collateral and cryptocurrency investments, modeled after the traditional markets’ trading conduct. We are in close discussions with an array of banking partners and institutional investors who have also expressed strong interest in participating.”

UAE and Chinese central Banks go beyond Mbridge CBDC project with new MOU on CBDC collaboration

UAE and Chinese central Banks go beyond Mbridge CBDC project with new MOU on CBDC collaboration

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the People’s Bank of China has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to enhance technical and technological cooperation in the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDC), going beyond initial collaboration on mBridge CBDC project.

As per the UAE Central Bank press release, the signings will enhance the strategic partnership between the two friendly nations and expand the bilateral relations in the financial and economic fields.

His Excellency Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of CBUAE, and His Excellency Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, signed the MOU in Hong Kong in presence of the UAE Counsel General in Hong Kong, H.E. Shaikh Saoud Ali Almualla.

The CBDC MoU aims to enhance collaboration central bank digital currency development and strengthen cooperation between CBUAE and the Digital Currency Institute of the People’s Bank of China in the field of financial technology. The MoU will enable the exchange of information on best practices and regulations relating to digital currencies and support the implementation of joint initiatives and projects, including the “mBridge” project which is a multi central bank digital currencies platform in facilitating cross-border trade payments instantly and securely.

The MoU also includes cooperation in training and skills development for specialists on both sides and the exchange of bilateral visits to discuss matters of common interest.

Commenting on the signing, H.E Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of CBUAE, stated, “We look forward to strengthening cooperation with our partners on innovation and solutions in financial technology including central bank digital currency to support the growth of our economy and society.”

Earlier,according to a Chinese media article, the Bank of China announced during The 3rd “Belt and Road” Summit Forum a list of 369 practical cooperation projects of which was an MOU signed with FAB bank of cooperation in digital currency.

Concurrently Standard Chartered announced its participation in the pilot testing program of China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) known as the digital Yuan (e-CNY or digital RMB). This move makes Standard Chartered the first foreign bank to engage with the country’s CBDC. According to the announcement, Standard Chartered, in collaboration with City Bank Clearing Services Co, will facilitate e-CNY transactions for its clients. It will allow them to purchase exchange and redeem e-CNY within their bank accounts.

 It is noteworthy that Standard Chartered’s backed digital asset platform, Zodia markets, received an In-Principle Approval (IPA) fulfilling the pre-requisites to receive a Financial Services Permission (FSP) for OTC broker-dealer in virtual assets by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Abu Dhabi’s international financial center.

Standard Chartered’s , venture arm SC Ventures, an innovation and fintech investment arm recently partnered with Japanese SBI Holdings to establish a Digital Asset Joint Venture investment company in UAE. The parties intend to capitalize the vehicle with $100 million. The company will invest in DeFi, tokenization, consumer payments and metaverse.

Blockchain deposit token payment platform Fluent to set up operations in UAE

Blockchain deposit token payment platform Fluent to set up operations in UAE

USA based Fluent Finance, a blockchain enabled fintech infrastructure company responsible for developing the connections from core banking to public layers, bridging Web2 to Web3 utilizing the Fluent Protocol, has joined UAE’s Ministry of Economy NextGEN FDI program as Fluent plans to launch its operations in Abu Dhabi and expand its workforce in the UAE to 125 people in the next five years.

Fluent is working to issue deposit tokens which are stable-valued, regulatory-compliant digital assets interoperable with core banking systems. With Fluent, banks may issue fiat-equivalent tokens directly to public blockchains based on outstanding customer deposits and central bank-issued CBDCs.

Fluent will use its new UAE headquarters to deploy and scale its proprietary Fluent Economic Bridge, which can be used by importers and exporters to settle transactions via stablecoins or, increasingly, deposit tokens.

They are already piloting the platform in Kenya, and now hope to develop a digital trade corridor with the UAE.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said Fluent’s participation in the NextGen FDI initiative underlines the UAE’s status as a hub for global trade and a supportive ecosystem for new technologies such as blockchain: “The UAE has become a prominent advocate for the modernization of the multilateral trading system, as well as a supportive place for the development of the tools and applications that can deliver it. I am optimistic about the possibilities of the Fluent Economic Bridge, and the potential for digital currencies to improve the efficiency and accessibility of global supply chains. In the build-up to the World Trade Organisation’s 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in February next year, encouraging platforms such as those developed by Fluent will offer an important proof point for the UAE’s leadership on trade technology.”

Bradley Allgood, Fluent Finance’s Chief Executive Officer, said the UAE was the obvious place in which to launch Fluent Economic Bridge. “The UAE offers exactly the kind of supportive, enabling environment that Web3 companies such as Fluent require. The combination of thoughtful regulation, forward-looking vision and advanced technology ambitions means we have the right foundations on which to develop our product and grow our organization. Importantly, this is also an important trade crossroads, which provides a multitude of opportunities to deploy our platform. We genuinely believe that, with the right support, we can transform Fluent Economic Bridge into the next unicorn.”

Bahrain ABC Bank goes live with JP Morgan’s Blockchain payments

Bahrain ABC Bank goes live with JP Morgan’s Blockchain payments

Bahrain based ABC bank after two years of piloting, J.P. Morgan’s Coin Systems, a blockchain based permissioned system that serves as a payment rail and deposit account ledger and sits within Onyx by J.P. Morgan has gone live with the blockchain payments solution.

Prior to this ABC bank had been piloting GCC region’s first blockchain based cross border instant payment solutions as well as CBDC project with the Central Bank of Bahrain. In 2020 The Central Bank of Bahrain collaborated with J P Morgan and Bank ABC in a pilot scheme to introduce instantaneous cross border payment solution leveraging state of the art technology and digital currency. The pilot was successfully completed in 2022. 

As such the soft launch of the new blockchain payment service by ABC Bank, is in close collaboration with the Central Bank of Bahrain.  The Central Bank of Bahrain has supported the project by integrating and scaling the blockchain payments solution within the Kingddom’s payments landscape.

On this occasion, His Excellency the Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, Mr. Rasheed AlMaraj, stated, “After working closely with JP Morgan and Bank ABC over the past two years to experiment the execution of cross-border commercial transactions between Bahrain and the U.S., leveraging the J.P. Morgan Coin System, we are pleased to witness the soft launch of this innovative banking solution by a Bahraini-based bank.  This initiative aligns with the CBB’s strategic vision to embrace innovation and digitalize the Kingdom’s financial services sector by eliminating inefficiencies that exist in traditional cross-border payment railways, facilitating trade between Bahrain and the U.S., and thereby inducing economic activity. We commend Bank ABC on their commitment to enhance their banking offerings by leveraging advanced global technologies.”

Mr. Sael Al Waary, Bank ABC Group CEO, said: “As an international bank operating across five continents, Bank ABC Group is committed to introducing innovative products to our home market and across our wider network. Offering high-value cross-border payments via the J.P. Morgan Coin Systems service, allows us to reduce traditional settlement periods considerably as well as being more cost-effective for our clients. We remain steadfast as a key enabler of Bahrain’s vision for a digital economy. We would like to thank our partners the Central Bank of Bahrain for their commitment and leadership and J.P. Morgan for their leading role in advancing cross-border payments for banking services.”

Naveen Mallela, Global Head of Onyx Coin Systems, said “Bank ABC has been one of the earliest adopters of the JPM Coin offering and we are delighted to launch the first of its kind commercial payment offering between J.P. Morgan and Bank ABC using distributed ledger rails. This enables cross-border commercial transactions to be executed between Bahrain and US corridors instantly, atomically and with certainty.”

While the offering has been launched with USD and locations involving Bahrain, US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, additional locations and currencies, notably Euro, are in the pipeline. Going forward with the planned introduction of programmable payment offerings, it will enable mutual corporate clients to leverage event driven and automated payouts enabling a dynamic and real time treasury management.