UAE Phoenix Group is top 10 bitcoin miner globally

UAE Phoenix Group is top 10 bitcoin miner globally

Phoenix Group PLC (ADX:PHX), a global cryptocurrency, blockchain, and next-generation digital asset infrastructure company, is now one of the top 10 crypto mining entities globally. Recently it announced that it has a total crypto mining operational capacity in Ethiopia of 132 MW after just adding 52 MW in the country. In total Phoenix Group now has a Bitcoin mining capacity of 500 MW across five countries globally, including operations in UAE, GCC, America, Canada and Ethiopia.

Munaf Ali, CEO & Co-Founder of Phoenix Group, said, “Phoenix Group has rapidly become a leading force among the top 10 global Bitcoin mining companies, a testament to our strategic foresight in securing prime locations with abundant, low-cost energy and our operational excellence driven by vertical integration and cutting-edge technology. The opportunities for future growth are immense, and we are committed to aggressively expanding our global footprint in key energy markets.”

Earlier this year, Phoenix Group entered Ethiopia with an 80 MW power purchase agreement (PPA), laying the groundwork for efficient, low-cost, and sustainable operations in a strategically important region. The newly secured 52 MW site will be developed in two phases. Phase 1 will deliver 20 MW of capacity, activating 5,300 high-efficiency air-cooled mining units with an expected output of 1.2 EH/s. Phase 2, set for completion by the end of Q2 2025, will add a further 32 MW, using hydro-cooling technology. Once fully operational, the site’s total hash rate is projected to double to approximately 2.4 EH/s.

Sustainable crypto mining in Ethiopia

Reza Nedjatian, CEO of Phoenix Mining, AI & Data Centers, added, “With 132 MW now running on clean hydropower, we’re proud to set a new benchmark for sustainable mining in Africa and deliver large-scale operations in energy-rich regions.”

Phoenix Group’s Ethiopian operations rank among the most sustainable in global Bitcoin mining, with 90% of their energy sourced from renewable hydropower via the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

In an interview with CNBC Crypto Weekly show Munaf Ali discussed the huge Bitcoin mining project in Abu Dhabi UAE that was designed built and operated by the company. The site occupies 80,000 square meters with 45,600 servers. He noted that this is one of the largest sites in the world.

The Future of Bitcoin mining is in electricity and power

The future of Bitcoin mining according to Munaf Ali is contingent on electricity. In his interview with Henri Arslanian he notes, there is a grab for power, everyone wants to have access to electricity because data processing is a new commodity, whether it is for bitcoin mining, AI, Web3 or DeFi, everybody needs electricity for these datacenters being built.

These comments come as The UAE government works on its energy needs with the launch of XRG, an international energy investment company that will focus on projects across the spectrum, from gas to chemicals to low carbon fuels to energy infrastructure. The energy investment company was launched by ADNOC in November 2025 with the aim to have $80 billion in assets under management by 2035.

XRG was launched by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and ADNOC. He noted at the time that global energy demand is set to rise dramatically, increasing from 9,000 GW to 15,000 GW by 2035 and potentially reaching 35,000 GW by 2050—a staggering 250% increase. The rise of AI applications like ChatGPT, which consumes ten times the energy of a single Google search, is accelerating this trajectory.

SolvBTC Protocol launches Shariah Bitcoin yield product

SolvBTC Protocol launches Shariah Bitcoin yield product

Solv Protocol, creators of SolvBTC.CORE in partnership with CoreDAO and Nawa Finance have launched a Shariah compliant Bitcoin yield product.

SolvBTC.CORE enables institutions to access halal Bitcoin yields while meeting Shariah standards, unlocking a new era of Bitcoin finance (BTCFi) adoption.

The Middle East alone holds over $5 trillion in sovereign wealth fund assets. A significant portion of these funds require strict Shariah compliance before allocating capital into new asset classes, including digital assets like Bitcoin.

SolvBTC.CORE breaks down this barrier, offering a compliant pathway for these funds to earn sustainable yields on Bitcoin. Certified by Amanie Advisors, a globally recognized leader in Shariah advisory, and facilitated by Nawa Finance, a Shariah-compliant DeFi partner, SolvBTC.CORE adheres to the highest standards of Islamic finance, ensuring sovereign funds and institutional allocators can confidently participate in BTCFi.


SolvBTC.CORE combines Bitcoin’s security with Shariah-compliant yield generation by pegging Bitcoin, Every SolvBTC.CORE token is fully backed by Bitcoin, preserving the underlying value of users’ assets. It also offers secure staking yields where Bitcoin holders stake BTC through SolvBTC.CORE to help secure the Core Network, earning consistent on-chain yields without compromising liquidity or self-custody.
Yield generation mechanisms are fully aligned with Islamic finance principles — free from interest-based income and excessive risk.
Investors maintain full liquidity to deploy assets across DeFi opportunities, blending yield generation with active market participation.
With SolvBTC.CORE, institutions can now:

Ryan Chow, Founder of Solv Protocol, states, “SolvBTC.CORE paves the way for sovereign wealth funds and traditional financial institutions to securely and confidently stake Bitcoin and earn real, on-chain yields.”

Ruya, UAE’s first digital Islamic Bank offers crypto trading services

Ruya, UAE’s first digital Islamic Bank offers crypto trading services

UAE based ruya (رويا), the country’s first digital-first Islamic bank has partnered with UAE Fuze a digital asset infrastructure provider to offer its customers crypto services including crypto buying and selling. Users will be able to purchase cryptos such as Bitcoin on Ruya’s mobile application.

As per the announcement this service is part of ruya’s broader investment offering, designed to promote ethical Islamic wealth building and long-term financial growth. Both Fuze and Ruya note that the service is secure, user friendly and aligned with ethical Islamic financial principles.

“At ruya, we are committed to transforming the financial landscape in the UAE by offering forward-thinking services while staying true to our mission of ethical Islamic banking. By integrating virtual assets into our investment platform, we aim to empower our customers to participate in the digital economy in a sustainable and responsible way. We can also assure our customers that the virtual assets we are offering on our ruya investment platform are Shari’ah-compliant, providing much-needed certainty,” said Christoph Koster, CEO of ruya.

Mohammed Ali Yusuf (Mo Ali Yusuf), Co-Founder and CEO of Fuze, shared: “Partnering with ruya is a big step towards making virtual assets a seamless part of everyday banking. Together, we’re combining Fuze’s cutting-edge infrastructure with ruya’s commitment to ethical Islamic banking. We are excited to be at the forefront of providing simple, secure, and ethical digital asset solutions for the future.”

Unlike platforms that encourage speculative trading, ruya’s virtual assets service is part of a carefully curated investment framework, fostering long-term wealth building.

Christoph Koster added, “By partnering with Fuze, we’ve ensured that our customers will benefit from a robust and trusted platform to access the opportunities in the virtual asset space. This service reflects our promise to innovate while maintaining the highest standards of ethical Islamic banking.”

Ruya is not the first bank to offer crypto buy and sell services. A month ago Liv Digital Bank part of Emirates NBD also opened up crypto trading, buying and custody service for clients.

UAE holds 3.75 percent of global Bitcoin hashrate

UAE holds 3.75 percent of global Bitcoin hashrate

According to a recent River Bitcoin Adoption report for 2025, the UAE holds 3.75% of global Bitcoin hashrate beating Canada which holds 3%, Kazakhstan at 2.5% and Paraguay with 3.5%. The United States continues to lead with a Bitcoin Hashrate of 36%, followed by Russia at 16% an China at 14%.

The report also noted that 28 countries hold less than 0.1% of the hashrate, and 9 countries hold 1% of hashrate. Already 94% of 21 million Bitcoins have been mined and the 6% will be mined within the next 115 years maximum.

Interestingly public companies account for 35.2% of total hashrate.

Individuals own 69.4% of Bitcoin supply followed by Funds ETF which hold 6.1% of supply and governments 1.4% of supply while businesses have 4.4% of supply.

The report also noted that Bitcoin global ownership is still less than 4%.

In the MENA region countries that have allowed Bitcoin mining are the UAE and Oman. One of the biggest players in Phoenix Group ADX-listed blockchain and crypto mining entity recently announced crypto mining revenues of $107 million in 2024, compared to $32 million in 2023 and $5.4 million in 2022. This represents a1852% increase over two years.

CEO & Co-Founder Munaf Ali has significantly increased his stake in the company, reaffirming his strong belief in its prospects and long-term growth trajectory. Since the public disclosure on ADX on November 18, 2024, Ali has acquired over 20 million ordinary shares of Phoenix Group through direct market purchases. This substantial investment highlights his deep confidence in the Company’s growth potential and his commitment to aligning executive interests with those of shareholders.

“As we enter a year of high-impact expansion, I firmly believe in Phoenix Group’s long-term potential, as these purchases show,” said Munaf Ali, CEO & Co-Founder of Phoenix Group “Increasing my holding in the Company reflects my belief in our differentiated strategy, high quality operations, and future growth. Phoenix Group is at the forefront of digital asset mining, and as a Board we remain fully focused on delivering growth and sustainable value creation for our shareholders.”

Marathon Digital also has operations in the UAE. Marathon Digital Holdings, Bitcoin mining entity, the company showcased its unaudited Bitcoin production stating that in January 2024 their Abu Dhabi facilities will have a total of 7.1 exahashes online. According to the CEO of Marathon Digital Fred Thiel, the operations in Abu Dhabi UAE currently has 2.7 exahashes online and includes over 13,000 rigs energized at their second larger facility in Masdar City. As he stated, “the remaining 4.4 exahashes are still expected to be online in January 2024.”

UAE Mubadala Sovereign wealth fund invests close to half a billion dollars in Bitcoin

UAE Mubadala Sovereign wealth fund invests close to half a billion dollars in Bitcoin

UAE Mubadala, a sovereign investment fund, has revealed in an SEC Filing that in late 2024 it invested $436,895,026 in BlackRock’s Ishares Bitcoin Trust ETF. The disclosure was made through a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Mubadala’s investment in Bitcoin while not directly but through an ETF is a significant departure from the usual investments made by Sovereign funds in the Middle East and GCC region.

It reflects a growing interest in the UAE in Bitcoin and crypto assets.

The UAE in particular has been showcased as having 30% of its population owning crypto.

Prior to this announcement another UAE sovereign wealth fund, through one of its subsidiaries FSI ( FS Innovation) agreed with US based Marathon digital holdings, a digital asset mining company establishing and operating facilities for digital asset mining in Abu Dhabi.

The initial phase consisted of two digital asset mining sites comprising 250 MW (megawatts) in Abu Dhabi UAE. Marathon Holdings will own 20% of the joint company in UAE only. The cost of the project being $406 million.

ADQ in addition also registered Zero Two, to launch its digital assets business in Abu Dhabi UAE to offer latest generation technologies. Zero Two aimed to build and operate data center and offer digital asset management services as part of ADQ’s digital asset strategy. The name “Zero Two” is derived from the significance of the numerals 0 and 2 in Web3 technology.

Then in September 2022, Abu Dhabi’s ADQ and Further Ventures, an investment firm back by ADQ launched a $200 million fund focused on Fintech, digital assets and supplychain.

Prior to that rumors circulated in 2024 that a Qatar sovereign fund was investing in Bitcoin, but nothing was ever verified.

Recently as well, Wisconsin’s investment board increased its holdings in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to over 6 million shares. The state fund was the first of its kind to report a bitcoin ETF purchase in 2024.

Hamilton founded by Egyptian entrepreneurs raises $1.7 million for tokenization platform built on Bitcoin

Hamilton founded by Egyptian entrepreneurs raises $1.7 million for tokenization platform built on Bitcoin

Hamilton, a Real-World Assets (RWA) protocol built on Bitcoin, redefining access to traditional financial instruments like U.S. Treasuries, real estate, and funds by turning them into secure, accessible digital assets a protocol has closed a $1.7M pre-seed funding round led by DisrupTech Ventures.

With participation from CMS, DeSpread, Hyperithm, Core Ventures, and other strategic investors, it is bridging traditional finance with Bitcoin by making tokenized real-world assets—such as T-Bills, Sukuk, and real estate—accessible to institutions and individuals worldwide.

Hamilton is co-founded by Egyptian nationals, Mohamed Elkasstawi and Ehab Zaghloul, seasoned blockchain and fintech innovators.

Hamilton, leverages Bitcoin’s unmatched security and decentralization to tokenize real-world assets. With the RWA market projected to reach $30 trillion by 2030, Hamilton is creating a protocol to make financial products globally accessible and inclusive, with a strong focus on emerging markets.

“Bitcoin isn’t just digital gold—it’s the foundational layer of future capital markets,” said Mohamed Elkasstawi, CEO of Hamilton. “With unparalleled security, decentralization, and resilience, Bitcoin provides the ideal infrastructure to democratize access to capital markets for everyone, everywhere.”

Hamilton tackles systemic barriers to financial access by offering low-cost, stable financial products—managed by top asset managers—for emerging markets, where currency devaluation and economic instability restrict growth and financial security.

The company is launching three flagship offerings: HUSD, the first Bitcoin-native stablecoin backed by U.S. Treasury bills; HUST, tokenized U.S. Treasuries; and Publius, a platform enabling financial institutions to securely tokenize any asset on Bitcoin. Together, these offerings provide institutions and individuals with seamless access to capital markets on the world’s most decentralized network.

The protocol’s inaugural transaction, completed on July 4, 2024, marked a significant milestone by tokenizing U.S. Treasury bills on Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions Stacks, Core, and BoB. The timing, coinciding with America’s Independence Day, reflects Hamilton’s vision of advancing financial independence and innovation through decentralized finance (DeFi).

Speaking to Lara on the Block, El Kasstawi stated, ” Tokenization will unlock liquidity which is not only global need but also a bigger one in the MENA region. I would never trust real world assets on a ledger that’s not immutable and never had a down time. That’s why we chose to tokenize on Bitcoin and we are the first to do so.”

“Investments in gold, Treasury bills, and fixed income products have traditionally been exclusive to individuals and institutions with millions in capital. Hamilton is breaking down these barriers through tokenization, enabling anyone, anywhere in the world, to participate in these institutional-grade investments with just one dollar,” said Malek Sultan, Co-Founder and Partner of DisrupTech Ventures.

Tokenization in the region has become a center of investment and deals, with the latest being DAMAC’s $1 billion tokenization of its assets.

In July 2024 Hamilton launched tokenized United States Treasury bonds on Bitcoin layer-2 blockchains. The company claimed the launch is the first of its kind. Hamilton U.S. T-Bills (HUST) were said to be available on the Stacks, Core and BoB (Build on Bitcoin) Bitcoin layer-2 solutions. The first transaction with HUST occurred on July 4th 2024.

Komainu licensed in the UAE, raises $75 million in Bitcoin from Blockstream

Komainu licensed in the UAE, raises $75 million in Bitcoin from Blockstream

UAE regulated digital asset service provider and custodian, Komainu, licensed by VARA Dubai, and backed by Laser Digital, a Nomura company, has raised $75 million in strategic investment from Blockstream Capital Partners (“Blockstream”) in Bitcoin. The raise is subject to relevant regulatory approvals.

As per the press release, the funding enables the company to accelerate its international strategic growth plans whilst adopting and integrating class-leading technologies developed by Blockstream Corporation Inc (“Blockstream Corp”), to maximize efficiencies and enhance client services in collateral management and tokenization.

The funding transaction itself is funded in Bitcoin with appropriate hedging and risk management and Komainu establishing its own Bitcoin Treasury to manage the Bitcoin provided by Blockstream.

Blockstream Corp’s Liquid Network will enable Komainu to dramatically cut the time for its off-exchange margining & settlement solution, Komainu Connect, from hours to minutes, becoming class-leading in the process. Blockstream Corp’s AMP technology will enable Komainu to automate its regulated asset support for tokenization and develop trustless trading solutions. The company will also integrate other technologies and services developed by Blockstream Corp, including its enterprise HSM wallet, in order to provide institutional clients with a broader range of bank-grade digital asset services.

To solidify the strategic partnership between the two entities, Adam Back, PeterPaul Pardi and Nicolas Brand will join Komainu’s board of directors.

Adam Back, CEO Blockstream Corp, commented “We are delighted that Komainu is adopting Blockstream’s various technology streams to enhance its institutional service offering. This is testament to the fundamental veracity of Bitcoin-related technologies and applications and marks the first time that these have entered the institutional arena. I am confident this will be the first of many such use cases as the institutional community wakes up to the power of the Lightning and Liquid Networks.”

Paul Frost-Smith, Co-CEO at Komainu, and who also joins Komainu’s board of directors, said, “At Komainu, our mission is to empower the digital asset ecosystem by offering secure, compliant, and innovative digital asset services. This partnership with Blockstream will transform the services we are able to offer and enhance our customer experience on many levels. Having a closely-aligned technology partner like Blockstream, one of the original visionaries in the digital assets ecosystem, is testament to our determination to become the go-to provider of digital asset services for Bitcoin and the institutional market, as well as increasing institutional adoption.”

PeterPaul Pardi, Director, Blockstream Corp, commented “This partnership with Komainu, backed by Nomura’s Laser Digital, is a landmark moment for the adoption of Bitcoin-related technology by a bank-built, regulated financial services business. It showcases the institutional use-cases for Bitcoin as demand reaches new highs. We are delighted that Komainu has chosen to implement Blockstream’s technology and we anticipate even wider uses for it in the institutional investor community over coming months”

Robert Johnson, Co-CEO & CTO at Komainu, said, “Integrating Blockstream’s technologies will significantly enhance and diversify our underlying core technology stacks. At Komainu we believe in offering our clients a wide choice of technology options and this partnership with Blockstream will maximize efficiencies and lower latencies across the various services that we offer. “

Syrian government is not exploring a bitcoin proposal

Syrian government is not exploring a bitcoin proposal

While some news outlet announced that the Syrian government was considering a bitcoin legislation, the Founder of Bitcoin21 Arabic noted that it was not the Syrian government but a group of crypto enthusiasts who were discussing this.

Bassem, the Founder of Bitcoin21Ar noted on twitter, “To clarify Syria’s Bitcoin policy proposal: Who wrote it, and is it legitimate? First, let’s address the misinformation circulating in crypto media: NO, the transitional government has neither approved nor considered this proposal, and we do not expect them to do so anytime soon. They likely have more pressing issues to address at this time.

He further explains that the proposal is not meant to circumvent international sanctions. He stated, “We believe that sanctions should be lifted URGENTLY through legal and political processes in accordance with international law.”

In a telegram group Bassem carried out a discussion on how one could introduce a constructive Bitcoin legislation to the Syrian people after a decade of severe humanitarian and financial distress. He adds, “The idea for the proposal was my own, and it was collaboratively drafted in Arabic by everyone. . We also had a small number of Bitcoiners who provided This is a grassroots movement driven by very bright and enthusiastic Bitcoin plebs.”

As part of this evolution, we renamed the group the “Syrian Center for Economic Research” or SCER and the initiative gained unexpected momentum when Dr. Saifedean Ammous who joined the discussions.

It’s important to clarify again that this is not a government-affiliated organization or funded by any entity.

To the people who are accusing us of being terrorists, CIA, or fill in the blank, can you please be less racist? Thanks!

The SCER is a volunteer-driven initiative that hopes to bring together Syrian engineers, academics, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to learn, disseminate knowledge, and foster communication and open dialogue on economics, technology, and money.

There is no physical headquarters. They communicate through social media channels like Telegram, X, and Nostr and encourage video and audio calls.

Joins us here: https://t.me/SyrianCER

Non Syrians are welcome too 🧡

HTX crypto exchange receives provisional approval for a license in UAE

HTX crypto exchange receives provisional approval for a license in UAE

HTX, a crypto exchange, during the Bitcoin MENA 2024 event in Abu Dhabi announced that it has received a provisional approval from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulator (VARA) as it seeks to expand to the MENA region. Charmain Lim, Head of VIP Clients Services at HTX made these statements during one of the panels.

During the session, “The Great Debate: Bitcoin vs. Crypto” session, Justin Sun, Global Advisor of HTX and Founder of TRON, attributed Bitcoin’s breakthrough of the $100,000 mark to advancements in cryptocurrency technology. He explained, “Tether once issued stablecoins on the Bitcoin Omni Layer, but the platform’s slow transaction speeds hindered its growth. However, USDT on TRON enables instant transactions, meeting the needs of users. Technological advancements have also benefited Bitcoin. The growing popularity of stablecoins has led to increased capital flowing into Bitcoin, further solidifying its role as a store of value.”

While Charmaine Lim, during a roundtable discussion titled “Improving Access to Bitcoin in the UAE” stated that despite advancements in UAE when it comes to cryptocurrencies, challenges persist, such as the cautious approach of certain banks toward cryptocurrency transactions, insufficient public education about cryptocurrencies, and regulatory uncertainties. These factors hinder the growth of the crypto sector in the UAE.

Charmaine noted that HTX secured the Provisional Approval for the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai’s VARA and is currently applying to upgrade it to a full VASP license.

He emphasized HTX’s strong focus on the UAE market, noting the platform’s ongoing efforts to connect with regulatory bodies and its proactive steps to collaborate with local banks in establishing a streamlined fiat-to-cryptocurrency transaction channel. Charmaine added that HTX will provide global users with learning opportunities on subjects such as crypto trading, storage, and security through HTX Live and online workshops. The platform will also continue to expand language options, including offering Arabic support, to enhance the user experience.”

The National Bank of Bahrain launches first Bitcoin Linked structured investment in GCC

The National Bank of Bahrain launches first Bitcoin Linked structured investment in GCC

The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has launched the GCC’s first Bitcoin-linked Structured Investment, in partnership with ARP Digital which provides crypto investment products and services such as Wealth management, coverage & OTC. The unveiling took place during a special ceremony at Fintech Forward 2024.

The investment product is designed exclusively for accredited investors to provide them the opportunity to gain exposure to Bitcoin’s (BTC) long-term growth while ensuring capital preservation. Through this structured product, accredited investors can benefit from Bitcoin’s upward performance, capped at a predefined threshold, while enjoying 100% capital protection on the downside. This offers a powerful hedge against the volatility traditionally associated with digital currencies.

Hisham AlKurdi, Group Chief Executive – Markets & Client Solutions at National Bank of Bahrain said, “We are proud to introduce this bespoke structured investment, which blends the appeal of digital asset exposure with the security of capital protection. This product underscores our focus on offering our wealth management clients innovative and secure avenues to diversify their portfolios in an evolving investment landscape. It is a testament to NBB’s continued leadership in financial innovation within the region.”

The launch of the Bitcoin-linked Structured Investment is aligned with the Bank’s strategy to enhance its product suite, particularly for wealth management clients, by providing tailored solutions that balance growth potential with risk mitigation. The product meets the demand for risk-averse investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin, while fully insulating their principal investment from market fluctuations.

Abdulla Kanoo, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer at ARP Digital added, “Our collaboration with NBB is poised to be a game-changer in the regional market. By leveraging our expertise in digital assets and NBB’s extensive reach in the financial sector, we have created a product that introduces Bitcoin exposure within a highly secure framework. This structured investment opens new doors for investors seeking a calculated approach to digital assets.”

Dalal Buhejji, Executive Director of Business Development for Financial Services at Bahrain Economic Development Board stated, “The launch of this Bitcoin-linked Structured Investment is a prime example of the true potential of Bahrain’s robust financial services ecosystem, which provides an attractive and streamlined environment that gives rise to innovative solutions, which is key to maintaining Bahrain’s position as a leading regional fintech hub and trusted investment destination for local and global investors alike. This initiative embodies a seamless fusion of traditional financial practices and inventive blockchain-based solutions, and we are proud to witness local institutions like NBB driving cutting edge advancements and diversification to the sector.”

ARP Digital received its license from Bahrain earlier this year.