UAE RAK Digital Assets Oasis partners with HBAR Foundation to fund and grow Blockchain Web3 members

UAE RAK Digital Assets Oasis partners with HBAR Foundation to fund and grow Blockchain Web3 members

UAE’s RAK Digital Assets Oasis (Ras Al Khaimah DAO), the world’s first and only free zone dedicated to global digital and virtual assets companies, and The HBAR Foundation have signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The HBAR Foundation will support RAK DAO ecosystem members to leverage the power of blockchain and build economies and applications on Hedera, the most used enterprise-grade public network.

This marks RAK DAO’s first operational relationship, bringing together the expertise and resources of both companies to provide direct and streamlined access to benefits within the Hedera ecosystem. These include a comprehensive grant program, financial backing processes, specialized expert support across technology, marketing and business development, and support to scale adoption and innovation of new ideas in the Web3 space.

“By creating and enabling the world’s first licensed Web3 ecosystem, we are facilitating the seamless exchange of information, connecting businesses across sectors, and paving the way for synergistic relationships to flourish. Together, we are unlocking a world of new possibilities, empowering entrepreneurs, and propelling innovation forward,” says His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK DAO. “This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to driving sustainable growth and shaping a future where Ras Al Khaimah emerges as a global leader in the digital economy.”

Together, RAK DAO and The HBAR Foundation will spearhead various initiatives in the Digital Assets Oasis ecosystem, including regular startup and scale-up pitching sessions, opportunities to connect with partners and investors, and explore avenues to launch joint projects such as venture studios or accelerators.

The HBAR Foundation grantees will also benefit from discounted set-up and licensing packages to establish themselves in RAK DAO, as well as access to effective banking solutions available to all members of the ecosystem. Both companies will work together dynamically to foster collaboration, fuel innovation, overcome barriers, and empower entrepreneurs in their journey to build the future of Web3 and blockchain technology.

“The United Arab Emirates has established itself as a dynamic hub for Web3 innovation, magnetizing global enterprises and top-tier talent. We eagerly anticipate joining forces to pioneer the future of the emerging technologies landscape,” says Shayne Higdon, CEO of the HBAR Foundation. “Through this exclusive relationship between The HBAR Foundation grantees and RAK DAO, we’re honored to provide grantees with greater access to the UAE whilst working together to establish RAK DAO as a major hub for the Web3 and digital assets sector.”

Ripple report finds 87 percent of MENA financial decision makers confident in crypto industry

Ripple report finds 87 percent of MENA financial decision makers confident in crypto industry

In Ripple’s latest report entitled “ 2023 New Value report, Crypto Trends in Business and Beyond” which covered topics such as cryptocurrencies, tokenization, DeFi, and crypto custody, financial decision makers from MENA ( Middle East and North Africa) are more bullish than their counterparts in other regions when it comes to cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and Blockchain.

As per the report findings, 72% of finance leaders surveyed expressed increased confidence in the crypto industry over the last 6 months, the number is even higher for those in the MENA region, reaching 87%.

90% of global finance leaders anticipate big impacts on business from blockchain and digital assets in the next three years. In terms of tokenization,they see the most massive impact in public stock trading and private share trading. This was especially expressed by finance decision makers with cryptocurrency experience in MENA.

In addition, global finance decision makers predict CBDCs and stablecoins will have a massive impact across business, finance  and society. This sentiment is particularly strong among  those with cryptocurrency experience, and those based in the LATAM and MENA regions.

When the Ripple report compared these results to last year’s survey, they saw that no only do  more respondents expect significant or massive impact of digital currency on business, finance and society,but they expect this to happen within a shorter period of time.

In other words, impact from these digital currency technologies is and will continue to accelerate at a faster clip. Specifically, respondents appear particularly bullish on the overall impact of digital currencies on payments. Nearly half (46%) of all respondents think stablecoins will have the largest impact on cross-border payments, and anticipate the largest impact of CBDCs to be on consumer-to-business payments (39% of financial institutions) and cross-border payments (41% of enterprises).

Many are either somewhat or very likely to begin using cryptocurrencies, CBDCs or stablecoins in their business in the next three years, and are confident that the technologies can meet their business needs. Once again, Ripple saw that respondents in  LATAM and MENA ranked slightly higher than those in other regions, and particularly those decision makers at financial institutions who work in roles related to digital transformation, blockchain/cryptocurrency, and innovation.

Overall, Latin America (LATAM) is more bullish on enterprise and institutional use of crypto for business followed by the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), then North America (NA), Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The report also noted that more financial institutions are interested in instituational DeFi due to pain points around borrowing, raising capital which many see that DeFi can help solve. In addition high interest rates currently outweight other borrowing related pain points by a pretty significant margin everywhere except in MENA, where credit approval requirements were ranked as the primary pain point.

According to the report, these findings are reflective of the current state of the global economy, and that’s reinforced when one compares these results to last year’s data when interest rates were lower, and thus ranked lower on the list at that time.

Another significant technology being looked into by financial decision makers is Decentralized digital identity (DID). The vast majority (90%) think DiD will have a significant or massive impact on Banking, Financial Services and Insurance in the next three years, especially finance leaders in LATAM and MENA.

Even those in treasury, capital markets, payments, and institutional banking are bullish on the technology as it pertains to Banking and Financial Services, falling within the 90% response rate and above for significant or massive impact. Surprisingly, finance leaders in those more traditional roles ranked slightly higher than those in innovation, which is somewhat counterintuitive.

When it came to crypto custody the report found that while a greater proportion of respondents at financial institutions (compared to their enterprise counterparts) currently use crypto custody in their business, in general across all respondents it was found that a total of 35% are currently using a custody solution and 54% plan to within the next three years. Additionally, most companies currently or planning to use crypto custody will do so via a managed custody approach outsourced to a third party.

The vast majority of global finance decision makers (upwards of 88%) believe that crypto and blockchain will have either a significant or massive impact on business, finance, and society over the next three years.

Over half of global respondents cited that they already have a cryptocurrency solution in place at their company, or are in the process of implementing one. Upwards of three-quarters indicate an openness to using or exploring other crypto technologies over the next few years (e.g. CBDCs, stablecoins,NFTs, etc.)

Despite the general positivity, uncertainty and barriers to adoption like privacy concerns, lack of clear regulation, risk management and price volatility are still present.

Cross-border payments and consumer-to-business payments are the top two most highly ranked use cases for both CBDCs and stablecoins.

Enterprises are particularly bullish on the use of NFTs for business in the metaverse and events/ticketing. Over 80% of global finance leaders are somewhat or very likely to use cryptocurrencies, CBDCs and/or stablecoins in their business in the next three years.

Ease of use is far and away the most important requirement for organizations to enable customers to pay with crypto. Faster payments/settlement times and cost savings are the biggest value propositions for incorporating crypto into cross-border payments for enterprises and payments/treasury professionals at financial institutions—regardless of region and level of familiarity with crypto.

Top reasons to hold a cryptocurrency are for use as a currency for making payments, and for use as a hedge against inflation.  Interest rates and cost-related concerns are key blockers for borrowing, raising capital, and making cross-border payments.

According to a survey of global institutional clients commissioned by BNY Mellon and conducted by Celent, 97% agree that tokenization will revolutionize asset management and be good for the industry. They also found that 88% of investors are comfortable utilizing a digital representation of currency like stablecoins or tokens.

The majority (72%) of finance decision makers expect to explore tokenization as a way to drive innovation over the next three years, especially those at financial institutions who currently have or are in the process of implementing a cryptocurrency solution at their organization.

In terms of assets that would benefit the most from tokenization 63% of respondents said online security of data, 50% said stocks.

IslamicCoin issued on Haqq Blockchain raises additional $200 million making total raised $400 million

IslamicCoin issued on Haqq Blockchain raises additional $200 million making total raised $400 million

IslamicCoin, issued by HAQQ Blockchain ( Haqq means truth in Arabic), which is Shariah compliant has raised another $200 million from Alpha Blue Ocean’s ABO Digital. As such the total funding now stands at $400 million.

The founders of Haqq Network include two prominent UAE banking experts. The network aim to cater to the world’s 1.9 billion Muslims. IslamicCoin was presented at the UN’s Cop27 in Egypt and was recognized as the Most Promising ESG Crypto at the Abu Dhabi Blockchain Awards, the Executive Team has received unwavering international support from both private investors, funds as well as the financial world.

The latest partnership will entail introducing Islamic Coin to the ABO network of investors and helping the team structure innovative Shariah-compliant financial products that could be used in the digital asset space to raise alternative funding. The deal provides for access to a maximum of $200M as and when required and ensures Islamic Coin has a long and stable runway.

“ABO Digital is thrilled to collaborate with Islamic Coin as an alternative finance provider. This ambitious project, supported by a stellar team, is revolutionizing the Shariah-compliant market by introducing digitization. We are honored to have been selected as a partner,” commented ABO Digital CEO Amine Nedjai.

The alliance comes on the heels of another major win for the team, as it signed an MOU with London based DDCAP Group, paving the way for Haqq Network integration with over 300 global Islamic banks. That partnership will see the development of a number of solutions for Islamic Finance that include a Shariah-compliant Web3 alternative to SWIFT, a digital asset platform, CBDCs, tokenization and other ventures.

“We are building a game-changing financial platform that brings together ethics and the traditions of Islamic Finance, delivering a robust solution that benefits and works together with traditional systems to significantly improve the state of the world,” commented Islamic Coin co-founder Mohammed AlKaff AlHashmi.

The Advisory Board of IslamicCoin is represented by Abu Dhabi and Dubai Ruling Families, including the grandson of UAE founder Sheikh Dr. Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Navy Chief Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan (advising in private capacity), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Mohammad Bin Khalid Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Juma bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and Her Highness Sheikha Mariam Suhail Obaid Suhail Al Maktoum. The team also boasts top names in traditional and Islamic finance. Islamic Coin’s Executive Board includes Emaar’s Hussein Al Meeza (who is also a co-founder), an award-winning banker with over 45 years of experience spanning the Islamic banking, finance, and insurance sectors, one of the key personalities involved in establishing Dubai Islamic Bank — the first fully-fledged Islamic Bank in the world. The Executive Board also includes Greg Gigliotti, CEO, Chief Investment Officer, and Founding Partner of Xtellus Advisors, a respected fund manager with experience at Goldman Sachs and other global institutions with a portfolio of over $16 Billion during his career.

Islamic Coin will be listed on exchanges soon.

KSA is looking for DLT, Ethereum, Hyperledger and DeFi talents with tokenization skills

KSA is looking for DLT, Ethereum, Hyperledger and DeFi talents with tokenization skills

The senior advisor of Saudi Central Bank  Anthony Butler  for blockchain, AI and digital assets recently posted  on LinkedIn new job positions opening up in Riyadh KSA.

The roles he mentioned included sSoftware engineers with hands-on experience working with DLT ( Distributed Ledger Technology) protocols and applications. According to Butler the role requires someone with experience implementing solutions using tech such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Besu, Hyperledger Fabric, and/or R3 Corda.”

He adds  these talents should particularly  be knowledgable of solutions involving tokenisation of real world assets. The job applicant should understand the functional and non-functional aspects of designing such solutions and be able to work with broader engineering teams to lead design and implementation. Understanding of DeFi and emerging areas, such as self-sovereign identity.

Also required are software engineers/full-stack developers at all levels of seniority. These applicants should be able to work independently on software development projects and potentially lead a team of other engineers by providing architectural and engineering guidance. Hands-on experience working with common front-end frameworks, architecture patterns, cloud-native design practices, and languages.

Finally Butler also mentions jobs for thos talented in AI ( Artificial Intelligence), machine learning (ML) and DS techniques and tools to solve complex classification, anomaly detection and prediction problems. Deep knowledge of common libraries such as PyTorch, TF, etc. and knowledge of tech and tools needed to implement AI at scale, such as vector databases (e.g. Pinecone), data pipeline tech (e.g. Airflow), orchestration tools (e.g. Langchain), MLOps tooling (e.g. Weights and Biases), etc. Will be working with SOTA and emerging areas, such as GenAI, so should be intellectually curious and self-driven to learn.

This comes as the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia moves forward with its CBDC ( Central Bank Digital Currency) national project as well as digital asset’s strategy.

Anthony Butler, the Chief Technology Officer for IBM MENA region who was based out of KSA, and is a blockchain, AI, metaverse expert joined Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) as a senior advisor in May 2023.

He announced the new position on LinkedIn saying, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Senior Advisor at Saudi Central Bank – SAMA! As a senior advisor to SAMA I will be focused on  first of a kind applications of emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technologies, quantum, and advanced cryptography in support of payments innovations (such as CBDC, stable coins, and tokenization), transformation of Suptech/Regtech, green finance,  open finance, decentralized finance (DeFi), and cybersecurity.

Prior to that, The Saudi Central Bank ( SAMA) appointed Mohsen AlZahrani, as virtual assets and CBDC lead.

With the new job postings listed by Anthony Butler it seems the move towards digital assets, DeFi, and blockchain in the capital of KSA is moving forward at a faster pace.

Swiss Blockchain Web3 Infrastructure provider Buildrs opens office in UAE and onboards first project

Swiss Blockchain Web3 Infrastructure provider Buildrs opens office in UAE and onboards first project

Swiss based Buildrs, a blockchain, metaverse and Web3 infrastructure provider has announced that it has opened a location in the UAE and is embarking on its first project with its first customers.

Buildrs is specialized in the virtual economy, blockchain, and gamification. Buildrs mission is to accelerate the adoption of Web3. Virtual assets, digital ownership, co-creation, and transparency are at the core of the experiences we build.

The company develops a portfolio of products and use cases across various industries as real estate, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming. Buildrs empower them using the original platform, which covers all aspects of virtual assets, the virtual economy, and the Metaverse.

Viktor Andreas, Founder and CEO of Buildrs stated in a LinkedIN video, “ We are very excited to be here in Dubai and continue our journey providing Web3 infrastructure which we have started three years ago in Swtizerland. UAE has created one of the most innovative and best envionments for Web3 innovation. We are happy to announce that we are setting up our location in the UAE. We have met wonderful people, in Hub71 in Abu Dhabi, and Dubai and we believe this is one th best locations now and in the future to innovate to collaborate and create the future by leveraging Web3 technology, New project and onboarding new customers, engaged in Web3 ecosystem.. we are here to stay.”

In their LinkedIn post Buildrs states, “Our commitment to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions remains as strong as ever. Our team is working tirelessly to understand the unique needs and challenges of businesses in the UAE. We are collaborating with local partners, participating in regional events, and leveraging digital tools to ensure we are as present and active as possible.”

Prior to the move to the UAE, Buildrs had visited and participated in various events in the UAE. The company was impressed with UAE’s unwavering government support expecially initiatives like Hub71 and the crypto ecosystem in Dubai with Crypto Oasis.

The were also impressed with the favourable regulatory landscape and it is their visit that reinforced their belief in the potential of the UAE to becoming a center of Web3 innovation.

UAE Trade Finance provider partners with InvoiceMate for AI Blockchain invoice financing

UAE Trade Finance provider partners with InvoiceMate for AI Blockchain invoice financing

UAE Halliday Growth, a non-bank trade finance provider has partnered with Blockchain entity InvoiceMate to offer Blockchain AI powered invoice financing in the UAE. The agreement was signed during the World Token Summit 2023 held in Dubai UAE.

UAE based, InvoiceMate is a blockchain powered platform for trusted & efficient invoice processing, payments & financing.

Speaking to LaraontheBlock Muhammad Salman Anjum, Founder of InvoiceMate, stated, “For us at InvoiceMate, this partnership is very valuable as it brings diversification of experiences to a real venture.”

He adds, “Halliday Growth is an established brand with extensive experience in the UAE market. InvoiceMate is eager to share its tech competency to reach the common goal of financial inclusion for MSMEs in the region. Blockchain and AI powered InvoiceMate offers a sustainable solution for working capital problems of the businesses.  We are looking forward to serve UAE together.”

Prior to this InvoiceMate and Mentor Health in Pakistan partnered to introduce Health Invoice Financing.

UAE Ministry of Education utilizes Blockchain UAE Pass app to attest certificates automatically

UAE Ministry of Education utilizes Blockchain UAE Pass app to attest certificates automatically

UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched the blockchain enabled “automated attestation” service to make it easier for university graduates to get their certificates verified quickly.

All attested university certificates will be provided through the blockchain-powered UAE Pass app, in cooperation with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), enabling students to access their attested certificates in a faster and more reliable manner.

During the first phase, six licensed universities, comprising almost 11,000 students, will benefit from the new service.

According to WAM news agency the  announcement was made during a press conference attended by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education; Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla, Under-Secretary for Academic Affairs of Higher Education at Ministry of Education, and representatives from UAE-based media outlets.

Certificates issued by UAE-based higher education institutions (HEIs) can now be attested in less than an hour. The service will facilitate graduates’ transition to the workforce or help them complete their education locally or abroad.

Dr. Al Falasi noted the “automated attestation” service is a proactive digital service that aims to make the attestation process faster and simpler for students. It ensures that the final outcome meets the quality standards set by the UAE Digital Government Strategy. This initiative aligns with the Ministry’s goal to improve the higher education system, which plays a crucial role in creating a knowledgeable society with global competence.

He said, “We, at the Ministry of Education, seek to harness cutting-edge technological solutions to boost the efficiency of our services, to help students contribute to the UAE’s comprehensive and sustainable development. We will keep using technology to enhance different parts of the education system, establishing the UAE as a top educational destination for students and the home to excellent educational institutions.”

The six licensed Universities included in first phase are  the United Arab Emirates University; Mohammed Bin Rashid University Of Medicine and Health Sciences; Khalifa University of Science and Technology; the University of Sharjah; Zayed University; and the American University of Sharjah. In the second and third phases, the service will be made available to all licensed HEIs in the country by 2024.

UAE’s Abu Dhabi University hosts 5ire Web3 Blokchain hackathon

UAE’s Abu Dhabi University hosts 5ire Web3 Blokchain hackathon

UAE Abu Dhabi University’s department of computer science and IT has hosted the first 5ire Web3 Blockchain hackathon in collaboration with 5ire and MetaDecrypt. Over 50 teams representing nine universities acros shte UAE participated in a bid to further enhance students’ knowledge of blockchain technology and innovation and to strengthen blockchain education, research and entrepreneurship.

ADU’s faculty members and 5ire trainers introduced students and academics to Web3 and blockchain technology, fostering innovation in the next generation of developers through the utilisation of several technologies such as Metamask, NFT, 5irechain, Ethereum and IPFS. In addition, participants from all coding and programming levels received expert guidance, valuable resources and networking opportunities to ignite their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

As part of the event, students attended a workshop focused on Web3 and blockchain technologies, as well as entrepreneurship. Following the workshop, the students worked together and were encouraged to apply their creativity to competitive and groundbreaking ideas that utilised Web3 and blockchain technologies as well as developing innovative solutions for real-world challenges. 

Professor Mourad Elhadef, Computer Science and IT Professor at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), said: “We are delighted to host the first 5ire Blockchain Hackathon in partnership with our strategic partner 5ire. Together, we aim to boost critical thinking and empower the next generation of Web3 and Blockchain developers. This hackathon serves as a dynamic platform where creativity meets sustainability, showcasing how technology can drive positive change in alignment with the UAE’s strategic vision for sustainability. We are inspired by the pioneering and creative ideas we have witnessed from the bright tech-savvy leaders of the future.”

Dr. Murad Al Rajab, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Abu Dhabi University, said:”Web3 and Blockchain stand at the forefront of innovation, offering unprecedented opportunities for sustainability. By harnessing the power of these transformative technologies, we can forge a path towards a greener and more sustainable future. The recent hackathon, organised by Abu Dhabi University and 5ire.org, showcased how Web3 and Blockchain can revolutionise areas like supply chain transparency, renewable energy trading, and beyond, driving us closer to a world where technology becomes a catalyst for sustainable development.”

Pratik Gauri, Founder and CEO of 5ireChain, said: “We firmly believe in empowering the next generation of Web3 pioneers, and it is not just a vision, but a commitment we hold. By fostering local talent in the UAE and embracing decentralised learning, we strive to equip children and youth with the necessary tools to construct a transformative future.”

The competition concluded with an award ceremony, where the winners were recognised for their outstanding innovative ideas. The top three winners were recognised from different universities within the UAE where ADU came in second place. The winning teams’ projects focused on Cryptocurrency and Sustainability.

UAE Cypher capital leading investor in multi chain DeFi protocol Concordia

UAE Cypher capital leading investor in multi chain DeFi protocol Concordia

UAE Cypher Capital is one of the investors in Concordia, a multi-chain risk and collateral management protocol for digital assets. Concordia closed a successful $4 million seed round in June, attracting significant investments from Tribe Capital, Kraken Ventures and UAE based Cypher Capital among other investors including Saison Capital. 

Concordia’s vision is to create an interconnected, permissionless, and optimized DeFi ecosystem that promotes accessibility, affordability, and developer-friendly environments, ultimately unlocking the true transformative potential of DeFi.

Concordia’s ground-breaking solution attracted the attention of leading Dubai VC Cypher Capital, who are building their portfolio into one of the leading web3 centric portfolios globally.

Bill Qian, Chairman of Cypher Capital said “Concordia represents a significant milestone in the evolution of decentralized finance. As Chairman of Cypher Capital, I am thrilled to be part of this ground-breaking initiative that is bridging the gap between traditional finance and the fast-emerging digital asset ecosystem. Concordia’s innovative collateral management protocol and commitment to interoperability are poised to unlock new opportunities and drive greater efficiency in the global financial landscape. We firmly believe in Concordia’s vision and are excited to support their journey towards creating an interconnected and optimized DeFi ecosystem.”

Concordia addresses this critical pain point within the Web3 ecosystem by leveraging its collateral management capabilities to enable seamless value transfer across previously segregated pools of liquidity, ultimately fostering interoperability across chains. Concordia users gain access to a unified account that allows efficient management of all their assets, opening doors to new opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital economy. By seamlessly integrating multiple blockchains, Concordia pioneers the concept of a cross-chain, cross-protocol margin account in the cryptocurrency space.

The integration of Concordia’s multichain account platform by several prominent Web3 companies enables their users to seamlessly execute margin-related actions.

Concordia is designed as a modular Infrastructure-as-a-Service solution for collateral management, offering a range of products addressing risk, pricing, brokering, rebalancing, non-custodial wallets, and cross-chain synchronization. This architectural flexibility allows Concordia to continuously adapt to the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.

Tribe Capital’s Managing Partner, Boris Revsin, stated, “I’ve known the team behind Concordia for quite some time, and I am confident they have the grit, technical skills, and go-to-market understanding to make Concordia a market leader in DeFi.”

Laurens De Poorter, Partner at Kraken Ventures, said, “The fragmentation of liquidity across an increasing number of blockchains is a known core issue for those that believe in a multi-chain future. Solving it requires not only superior technology but also best-in-class business development and a deep experience in risk management & compliance. We believe Concordia’s founding team is one of those rare teams that makes all stars align to have a real lasting impact on the overall crypto industry. We could not be more excited to partner up with them!”

Uri Ferruccio, CEO of Concordia, highlights the company’s mission, stating, “Concordia is solving the value convertibility problem for digital assets. There are many different digital assets and distributed ledgers. This has pros and cons. You can create a micro-economy tailored for the fans of a specific company, for example, but value also gets trapped in a multitude of different pockets. Concordia’s unique combination of interoperability technology and institutional-grade risk and collateral management creates a better and safer solution for cross-chain value transfer.”

Blockchain Security auditor Hacken partners with Dubai Blockchain Center

Blockchain Security auditor Hacken partners with Dubai Blockchain Center

Ukraine headquartered Hacken, a blockchain security auditor that aims to make Web3 a safer place, has partnered with Dubai Blockchain Center.

As per a Hacken team tweet, “ This is a pivotal step towards accelerating blockchain adoption in Dubai and ensuring enhanced security in the tech scene.”

Igor Hacken, Business Development Manager at Hacken tweeted, “Very proud moment for hackenclub expanding into the UAE joining the efforts of keeping the blockchain secure with Dubai Blockchain Center and  Dr. Marwan Alzarouni. Stay tuned to learn more about all of our contributions in to the rapidly growing region.”

The  collaboration will also include providing  mentoring, education on blockchain security and contributing to the development of regulatory requirements for project licensing.

Hacken offers various solutions including smart contract audit, proof of reserves, and others. In February 2023, Hacken researchers identified a bug in the Binance zkSNARK-based Proof of Reserves system which was then resolved with Binance team.

Since their inception in 2017, they have carried out 1200 audits.

This is not the first collaboration in the region. Prior to this Hacken launched a virtual Hackathon in May 2023 with UAE based Venom Foundation with a pool prize of $225,000.

Most recently Hacken’s CEO and Co Founder, Dyma Budorin published a research conducted by CER one of their partners which revealed that 70% of crypto wallets have security gaps, exposing digital assets to vulnerabilities.

The presence of Hacken in the UAE, looks to benefit the blockchain ecosystem as a it creates more awareness on digital assets auditing and security.