UAE RAK DAO signs MOU with Tencent Cloud for innovation

UAE RAK DAO signs MOU with Tencent Cloud for innovation

In a spree of MOUs and partnerships, the RAK Digital Assets Oasis, digital asset free common law free zone has signed another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a global tech player, Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of tech company Tencent.

As per the Linkedin post of CEO of RAK DAO Dr. Sameer AlAnsari, “I’m delighted to share that RAK DAO has officially signed a memorandum of understanding with Tencent Cloud, a renowned global pioneer in internet and technology. This significant collaboration marks a milestone in our journey toward innovation and advancement. Tencent is the 7th largest company in the world by market capitalization.”

He adds, “Moreover, we are incredibly honored that the signing ceremony was graced by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. His esteemed presence underscores the importance and impact of this partnership for our region and beyond.”

The collaboration is geared towards nurturing entrepreneurship, enhancing skill development, and fostering ecosystem growth. This marks a crucial milestone in shaping the trajectory of the digital economy for the future.

This announcement comes at the same time that Saudi Arabian Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), a leading digital enabler in the technology, media, and Tencent Cloud, launch the ‘Go Saudi’ program, aimed at revolutionizing the digital landscape of the Kingdom as it grows into a global business and entertainment hub.

In September 2023, Tencent Cloud, launched its first Web3-native product, Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC. Jointly developed with Ankr, the offering delivers Web3 infrastructure, along with developer services to Web3 builders. By introducing Blockchain RPC, Tencent Cloud is striving to provide a blockchain node infrastructure solution that is fast and robust, enabling developers to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving Web3 environment.

RAK DAO (Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis) has also been developing partnerships with Blockchain and Web3 entities such as BlockLogica, Conflux, as well as meeting with Ethereum Founder.

Crypto Oasis venture co-founder steps down and joins crypto conglomerate

Crypto Oasis venture co-founder steps down and joins crypto conglomerate

Stepping away from his operational role at UAE’s Crypto Oasis venture entity, the Middle East blockchain ecosystem, Saqr Ereiqat Co-founder of Crypto Oasis Ventures, has joined Indian headquartered, TDMM, crypto trading firm as CEO, and as a partner at TradeDog Group, a global crypto ventures conglomerate that carries out research, education, media, consulting, incubation, and trading.

TradeDog Group has grown to become one of the most prominent and diversified groups in the crypto space, with a presence in over 20 countries and a network of over 500 partners and collaborators. TradeDog Group’s mission is to empower and educate people and businesses about crypto and blockchain technology and to foster a vibrant and inclusive crypto community.

While TDMM is an established crypto trading firm builds scalable liquidity on digital assets, generating over $5 billion in trading volume. With a team of 30+ professionals across 20+ countries, TDMM serves 40+ clients across Defi, GameFi, and Infrastructure.

Under Ereiqat’s leadership, both TDMM and TradeDog Group are set to expand their reach and influence in the blockchain and digital assets market.

Reflecting on his new position, Ereiqat shared his enthusiasm and vision for the future stating, “I am thrilled and honoured to join TDMM as its new CEO and the TradeDog Group as a partner. I look forward to working with the team to build scalable liquidity on digital assets, position ourselves as global leaders, and create value for our clients, partners, and stakeholders.”

Gaurav Dubey, the founder and chairman of TradeDog Group, expressed his enthusiasm about Ereiqat’s appointment added, “We are delighted to welcome Saqr Ereiqat as our new CEO and partner. After all, the TradeDog group is nothing but a few distinguished leaders like Saqr, who are determined to add value to the world and make finance as accessible as food to the 8 Billion people of the world. We are excited to have him and empowered now, more than ever, to achieve greater heights.”

Stc Bahrain to offer Blockchain Web3 infrastructure services in Bahrain

Stc Bahrain to offer Blockchain Web3 infrastructure services in Bahrain

Stc Bahrain, the Saudi telecom subsidiary in Bahrain, announced that it will be offering Web3 infrastructure services using blockchain in partnership with LionsCraft for the Bahrain market. Lionscraft provides cutting-edge technology and business consulting in the thriving Web3 space.

This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating stc Bahrain’s telco capabilities into the blockchain industry facilitating the introduction of the most innovative products and services, and setting new benchmarks in regional digital evolution.

As per the release, the expansion is aimed at nurturing the advancement of the digital economy and improving the experience of internet users.

The signing ceremony was held in the metaverse in stc Bahrain tower while the agreement itself was deployed as an NFT ( Non Fungible token) on the Avalanche Blockchain.

. Additionally, the partnership agreement itself is deployed as an NFT (non-fungible token) on the Avalanche network. Within its metadata, there is hash linking to the signed contract, enabling users to authenticate the NFT’s origin and validity.

stc Bahrain chief wholesale officer Mr. Saad Odeh commented on the partnership, saying, “Web3 is progressively solidifying its form. While it may be perceived as another iteration of the internet, it represents a generational shift. stc BH will offer several Web3 infrastructure services, serving as a cornerstone to enable dynamic user experiences while ensuring greater data sovereignty and privacy to internet users. We are thrilled to contribute to establishing the groundwork for the future and spearheading the transformation of the digital experiences in MENA region.  We are committed to executing our mandate of empowering the next phase of digital transformation in alignment with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.”

Lionscraft CEO Dr. Adilah Hussien added, “Lionscraft is delighted to partner with stc Bahrain, harnessing our collective expertise to forge the path for Web3 innovations. This collaboration represents a shared vision for a decentralized future, where empowerment and user-centric design lead the digital narrative. Together, we are laying the foundational stones for an ecosystem that prioritizes trust, autonomy, and the seamless integration of blockchain technologies into everyday digital interactions.”

In December 2022, stc Bahrain became the first telecom operator in Bahrain to accept cryptocurrencies through its partnership with Eazy Financial Services, a leading Bahraini Payment Services provider specializing in POS and online payment gateway. In addition stc Bahrain collaborated with AlephZero, a layer 1 blockchain that allows the deployment of Web3 applications quickly, securely and at low cost for its Hackathon called CTRL+Hack+ZK.

Blockchain and AI IO Research secures $30 million valuating it at $1 billion

Blockchain and AI IO Research secures $30 million valuating it at $1 billion

IO research, a, blockchain and AI startup, founded and headed by Ahmad Al Shadid, has raised $30 million in a series A funding, valuating the company at $1 billion.

IO research, the creators of Depin, is a Solana based decentralized AI compute cloud. IO Research launched DEPIN in November 2023. At the time this was considered as an opportunity for cryptocurrency miners in possession of underutilized GPUs, as well as clients requiring a scalable and affordable computing solution amid rising costs.

In November, Founder and CEO Ahmad Shadid has noted, “This is a monumental moment for io.net and the entire decentralized computing community. We are not simply launching a platform; we are pioneering a global movement towards optimal utilization of computational resources. Our vision has always been to bridge the gap between underutilized resources and rising computational demands facing AI and ML engineers, not to mention crypto miners. I believe we can make a significant contribution to the AI revolution over the coming months and years.”

With deployment speeds of less than 90 seconds, io.net will enable ML and AI engineers to deploy massive enterprise-level clusters to power models for training and inference. io.net is said to be up to 90% more cost-effective than traditional GPU providers such as AWS and Azure.

Few months later, March 2024, IO.net, DEPIN has received $30 million in funding spearheaded by Hack VC in collaboration with several angel investors including Multicoin Capital, 6th Man Ventures, Solana Ventures, OKX Ventures, Aptos Labs, Delphi Digital, The Sandbox, Sebastian Borget of the Sandbox, and others.

In addition, there was investment from Matty Taylor, Ian Krotinsky (founder of Tiplink), MH Ventures, Amber Group, Arkstream, Modular, Continue Capital, Foresight, Longhash, SevenX, and Delphi Digital.

According to sources familiar with the Series A funding, the funds were raised in tranches coupled with the fact that it is structured as a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE), with token warrants in a 1:1 ratio. The first tranche happened in January but it was not until recently that the final one was completed.

The CEO and founder of io.net Ahmad Shadid, explained the terms of the investment, stating that investors have a minimum one-year lock-in period for tokens.

This $30 million fund will help the Artificial Intelligence (AI) protocol enhance the aggregation of blockchain distributed GPUs.

Qatar shrimp farm to raise $285 million using security token offering

Qatar shrimp farm to raise $285 million using security token offering

Stobox Blockchain tokenization solution provider has announced that it will be working with Qatar based ICM Capital to raise $285 million for the biggest aqua marine shrimp farm using a security token offering (STO).

The project will introduce security token offerings for aquaculture industry utilizing Stobox’s expertise in tokenization and blockchain technology. Stobox offers Securities issuance, management, and trading on a blockchain.

Jason Jones Head of Global STO Sales Consulting & Client Project Management at Stobox, states, “Stobox will be handling the legal, technology and consulting requirements for the project.”

ICM Capital aims to raise $285 million for the development of the Shrimp Farm Project. This capital has been earmarked for scaling operations, enhancing sustainability practices, and ensuring the farm’s competitiveness on the global stage.

ICM Capital with headquarters in the UK, opened an office in Qatar as part of the firm’s expansion into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The multi-regulated broker gained authorization from the Qatar Financial Centre to establish a physical presence in the state.

As per Stobox announcement, through this tokenization effort, ICM Capital is not only seeking financial investment but also inviting global stakeholders to be a part of a sustainable and profitable future in aquaculture. Tokenization brings efficiency to the traditionally complex issuance of securities by leveraging blockchain technology, offering a more streamlined and technologically advanced approach to the entire process.

This comes as Qatar has moved full force into the digital assets field announcing its digital assets lab as well as upcoming digital assets regulatory framework. QFC has mentioned on several occasions that they are interested in seeing security token offerings, tokenization of real estate and more.

KACST and Animoca Brands to spur blockchain Web3 development in Saudi Arabia

KACST and Animoca Brands to spur blockchain Web3 development in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) during the LEAP 2024 event, signed an agreement with Animoca Brands to propel Blockchain and Web3 system in KSA. The agreement aims to facilitate the entrance of companies and institutions into the Web3 and blockchain ecosystem.

As per the agreement both entities will work to develop joint research and development projects in Blockchain applications, games, AI and metaverse development.

KACST has signed 13 partnerships at the event so far with one being a partnership with the Global Semiconductor Group focusing on the design of electronic chips.

KACST also signed a strategic partnership with Elm Company, to enhance cooperation in the field of future cities’ technologies and emerging technologies, in addition to its partnership with Tulip Technologies Company to enhance cooperation in research and development, and training in the field of robotics, AI, and automation.

Animoca brands has been expanding its presence in the MENA region, including KSA. Animoca Brands was one of the investors in Saudi’s first NFT marketplace platform, Nuqtah. Nuqtah raised a seed round of millions of dollars from Blockchain platform Polygon and Animoca Brands.

In addition, in October 2023, Metaverse creator Animoca Brands Corporation Limited announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“Strategic Partnership”) with NEOM Company (“NEOM”) to drive regional Web3 initiatives in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 plan. This came after NEOM investment fund signed a term sheet for $50 million investment in Animoca Brands.

In the UAE, Animoca Brands, early investors in The Sandbox, invested in UAE gaming startup Farcana, to advance digital property rights for gaming and the metaverse fueling Farcana’s beta launch and development within the Bitcoin Ecosystem with Free Mint Bitcoin ordinals.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia sign agreement for Digital Government

Qatar and Saudi Arabia sign agreement for Digital Government

The Qatar Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) and Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority have signed an agreement to build the digital government field using cutting edge technologies.

The agreement was signed during the LEAP 2024 event being held in Riyadh KSA from March 4-7 2024 under the theme ‘Into New Worlds’.

The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in government digital transformation, capacity building, and competency enhancement in digital governance, as well as research, development, and investment in cutting-edge technologies within the digital government sphere. Additionally, the agreement encompasses various other areas relating to digital government and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

The cooperation agreement was signed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai and Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

Al Mannai said, “Our strong fraternal relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pave the way for extensive cooperation and development opportunities across various sectors between our countries. Today’s agreement exemplifies our dedication to fostering innovation and technological advancement both locally and internationally. We anticipate a productive partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that fosters the exchange of experiences and best practices in delivering government services, digital transformation, infrastructure development, and innovation promotion.”

The agreement aims to expand strategic partnerships in the digital government and digital economy sectors. It comes aligned with the ongoing efforts of the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council to strengthen the partnership between the two brotherly countries.

In addition, Amazon Web Services unveiled its plans to launch a new infrastructure region in KSA by 2026, investing more than $5.3 billion. The move aims to support the Kingdom’s digital transformation and meet growing demand for cloud services in the Middle East. The new region will offer services such as analytics, artificial intelligence, compute, and storage, catering to various industries including healthcare, education, gaming and nonprofits.

LEAP forum is exploring topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, smart cities, and the digital economy.

Saudi Arabia recently signed an agreement with The Hashgraph Association to launch a deep tech venture for cutting edge technologies including Blockchain.

Blockchain GameFi Venture, MetaTrace receives license in UAE

Blockchain GameFi Venture, MetaTrace receives license in UAE

MetaTrace, a GameFi venture, has secured a license from the UAE RAK DAO within the free economic zone. Embarking on its third investment round, the project aims to amass $25 million for global expansion, fortifying its market presence globally.

In May 2022 MetaTrace raised $500,000 for its NFT collection. By August 2022, a successful MVP on the geolocation platform MetaFora, powered by Polygon blockchain, was unveiled.

The second investment phase garnered $5,150,000, supported by angel investor Alexey. This marked the beginning of an extensive blockchain product ecosystem and a team of 50+ professionals. In September 2023, the MetaTrace TRC token debuted on exchanges, showcasing a 400% increase and maintaining a leading market position.

Metatrace is now launching its Series A investment round of $25 million. Mezen consulting group values MetaTrace at over $296 million, with projections soaring to $700 million within the next year. Despite the high valuation for a yet-to-be-fully-launched game, MetaTrace’s substantial user base and vibrant ecosystem provide a distinct advantage in this dynamic project.

$3.8 billion fund now tokenized on the blockchain with Sygnum Bank

$3.8 billion fund now tokenized on the blockchain with Sygnum Bank

Sygnum Bank which has a regulated digital asset bank in the UAE, alongside Hamilton Lane, and Apex Group announced a cross industry project that expands global private market access to significantly larger and more diverse groups of qualified investors using Blockchain.

Leveraging the power of the blockchain, the new DLT-registered share class automates and integrates traditionally separate fund management functions, increasing both accessibility and efficiency. The first fund to feature the new share class will be Hamilton Lane’s USD 3.8bn GPA Fund, which has an annual average performance growth of 14.6 percent and has outperformed the MSCI World Net Total Return Index (USD) by 4.44 percent since inception in 2019.

Leveraging Sygnum’s DLT solutions, the minimum investment has a significantly lower fund entry point than direct investments into traditional private markets’ evergreen funds. These DLT-registered shares will be available exclusively to Sygnum professional, institutional and corporate clients.

The unique investment opportunity is the result of a strategic, cross-industry project underway for more than a year. Hamilton Lane, a leading global private markets investment firm with over USD 900bn in assets under management and supervision, will serve as investment manager for the new offering. Apex Group, in its role as transfer agent and fund administrator (via Apex Fund Services regulated in Luxembourg), and FundRock-LRI, in its role as Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM), is leveraging Sygnum’s DLT solution to manage the on-chain share registry.

Victor Jung, Head of Digital Assets at Hamilton Lane, says “We strongly believe that tokenisation has the potential to transform the way investors gain access to the historically strong returns and performance opportunities within the private markets, and are delighted to announce this digital-native, institutional-grade offering with Sygnum and Apex. This joint initiative with the Swiss Private Wealth team underscores the region as a leading digital asset hub that we believe will serve as a catalyst for broader adoption within the banking and wealth management industry. We would like to invite the community to join us in this movement.”

Fatmire Bekiri, Sygnum Head of Tokenisation, says “The new DLT-registered share class in Hamilton Lane’s GPA Fund marks the first entry in Apex’s on-chain share register. This is a significant breakthrough in making private markets more broadly accessible and investible via DLT solutions. We are proud to join forces with other industry leaders like Hamilton Lane and Apex, and we look forward to this strategic partnership delivering a series of new and unique opportunities for investors, as well as heralding positive, blockchain-powered change for the industry.”

Bruce Jackson, CFA, Apex Group Chief of Digital Asset Funds and Business says “Hamilton Lane will raise new investor capital, while expanding direct access to their GPA Fund offering. Clients of Sygnum Bank now have access to a sophisticated alternative asset class, designed to achieve significant alpha through uncorrelated investment returns. Apex continues to meet its goal of increasing access for its clients’ alternative strategies and will continue to perfect its Framework Operating Model for the distribution of alternative asset funds using blockchain as the subscription, onboarding, operating, administration, and transfer agency platform.”

This unique investment opportunity is made possible by Sygnum’s expertise in leveraging the blockchain’s capabilities in a fully-regulated environment. Novel project aspects include the “fractionalisation” of assets to enable smaller investment entry-points, streamlined compliance, the end-to-end automation of the on-chain share registry and transfer agent activities, as well as increased levels of transparency due to the open nature of DLT. This project is built on the Polygon blockchain.

According to McKinsey5, the +300% growth of global private markets fundraising between 2009 and 2022 was due to its consistent outperformance of public markets. However, the multi-million-dollar commitments that were typically required to participate in this high-growth market have, until now, limited private markets exposure for many in the broader investment community.

Sygnum closed a $40 million round, which valued the firm at $900 million earlier this year.

UAE HAYVN investors Deus X Capital buy out shareholders and appoint new CEO

UAE HAYVN investors Deus X Capital buy out shareholders and appoint new CEO

UAE HAYVN investors, Deus X Capital, a $1 billion family office has agreed to buy out HAYVN digital assets infrastructure provider and appoints Richard Crook as new CEO. Deus X Capital will purchase the business brand, technology, clients and staff from other HAYVN shareholders.

The parties have agreed to the asset purchase, subject to completion.

As per the press release, the deal provides the opportunity to recapitalize and reinvigorate the business as it seeks to consolidate its presence in the Middle East, while allowing for growth globally.

In addition, Richard Crook has been appointed interim CEO of HAYVN with a focus on growing the business and realizing the global opportunities ahead of it. Ahmed Ismail, Board Member & Co-Founder of HAYVN had told LaraontheBlock that they would be appointing a new CEO in December 2023.

Crook joins HAYVN following more than 25 years in the digital assets and investment banking industries, including roles such as COO of BCB Group, the digital assets payments business, and Head of Emerging Technology at investment bank RBS after serving in senior management roles at UBS.

Tim Grant, CEO, Deus X Capital, speaking on the asset purchase stated, “HAYVN is an innovative business at the forefront of the movement to a democratized financial system. We are committed to providing institutional clients with the critical services they need to capitalize on the existing and growing opportunity in digital assets, while continuing to build and develop new capabilities. HAYVN is core to our strategy and represents another pillar of our commitment to the Middle East region.”

Richard Crook, interim CEO, HAYVN, said: “I am delighted to join a business that has already established itself as a leader in financial technology and a fundamental pillar of the digital assets ecosystem. The digital assets industry is growing at a rapid pace as it continues to converge with traditional financial services, and I look forward to ensuring that HAYVN is central to that growth as we build on our success.”

This comes after the ousting of their previous CEO under difficult circumstances.