CoinMENA and Dubai digital asset association to support crypto in MENA

CoinMENA and Dubai digital asset association to support crypto in MENA

The Dubai Digital Assets Association (D2A2), dedicated to advancing education, collaboration, and innovation in the digital asset industry, has partnered with CoinMENA FZE, a digital asset brokerage licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority serving the MENA region.As part of the partnership, D2A2 and CoinMENA will collaborate on thought leadership, events, and joint initiatives that empower users, support startups, and engage regulators and policymakers to help shape the future of crypto in the Middle East.

As per the press release, the partnership marks a key milestone in the mission to create a more connected and compliant digital asset ecosystem across the region. Together, D2A2 and CoinMENA will work to support greater access to digital assets, enhance regional regulatory dialogue, and foster innovation for both retail and institutional market participants.

CoinMENA provides both retail and institutional investors with secure and reliable access to digital assets. Its commitment to safety and accessibility aligns closely with D2A2’s mission to promote best practices, education, and responsible innovation in the digital asset sector.

In 2024, Dubai’s virtual assets regulatory accomplishments was the center of discussions at an event hosted by Dubai Digital Assets Association (D2A2), supported by Dubai Chamber of Commerce. On the one-year anniversary of VARA (Virtual assets regulatory authority) in Dubai, the forum provided a platform for industry stakeholders to review and analyze the development of the regulatory landscape for virtual assets and the challenges industry is facing. The feedback and insights gathered during the roundtable discussion were consolidated into a submission by D2A2 on behalf of the stakeholders to regulatory authorities for suitable action.

CoinMENA launches Bitcoin campaign in MENA

CoinMENA launches Bitcoin campaign in MENA

CoinMENA, a regulated crypto trading platform in the UAE and Bahrain, serving the MENA region, has launched an innovative crypto campaign “Your Future, Your Choice” Partnering with creative agency Bigsea, the campaign uses sharp satire to critique today’s harsh economic realities.
The crypto exchange‘s bold approach addresses two universal challenges: rising living costs and the struggle to grow savings. Through two short films, the campaign humorously highlights modern-day financial struggles with relatable scenarios and a touch of mobster menace.


The films utilize metaphors for painfully familiar scenarios. In the first film, a young man looking to pay his rent is strongarmed by mobsters into emptying his wallet, a situation many can relate to as rent prices rise year after year. In the second film, the same man tries to grow his savings, only to watch helplessly as a mobster clerk and his gang pocket his hard-earned cash, leaving
him with a single coin in “interest.” The scene cleverly reflects how difficult it is for the average person to grow their savings.


Enter Bitcoin, Enter CoinMENA


The campaign flips the script with a call to action: “Don’t get bullied by inflation” and “Don’t get bullied for wanting more.” Instead of settling for the status quo, CoinMENA positions Bitcoin as a reliable alternative, one that protects against inflation and serves as the best
savings vehicle in the digital era.


Founders Dina Sam’an and Talal Tabbaa highlight the bold vision behind the campaign, “We wanted to tell it like it is. Bitcoin is humanity’s first purposefully engineered money, designed to preserve and appreciate in value, unlike fiat money, which is designed to
depreciate and lose value continuously. It represents hope for everyone struggling with the rising cost of living, offering an alternative way to save your time and energy.”

Serge Asaad, CEO of Bigsea, explains the creative inspiration stating, “This campaign is about giving people a moment of realization, that the ‘old way’ is not working out for them. CoinMENA offers not just an alternative, but a real sense of control and optimism
for the future. That’s where the satire comes in: we wanted to make people laugh, then think, and ultimately act.”


CoinMENA’s films deliver a simple yet powerful message: when rising living costs and the struggle to save leave you feeling powerless, choose Bitcoin with CoinMENA and take back control. As the signoff powerfully states: “Your Future, Your Choice.”

CoinMENA and Fuze partner with MasterCard to offer Crypto Credential solution in UAE

CoinMENA and Fuze partner with MasterCard to offer Crypto Credential solution in UAE

As the UAE and Kazakhstan now join North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific with Mastercard’s Crypto Credential solution, UAE regulated CoinMENA and Fuze are the first crypto exchanges to be onboarded. The solution simplifies the consumer experience allowing crypto exchange users to send and receive cryptocurrencies using simple aliases instead of complex blockchain addresses. Mastercard’s solution is marking its debut in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region.

Mastercard Crypto Credential is facilitated through its partnerships with key exchanges and providers in the region. It also helps verify transactions among consumers and businesses using blockchain networks, providing the assurance that a user has met a set of verification standards and confirming that the recipient’s wallet supports the transferred asset. It brings greater trust and certainty to crypto transactions through the exchange of metadata and Travel Rule information.

This latest expansion will enable exchanges such as ATAIX Eurasia, Intebix, and in the UAE with CoinMENA, as well as Fuze.

“At Fuze, our collaboration with Mastercard on the Crypto Credential initiative underscores our dedication to advancing secure, efficient, and inclusive digital asset transactions across the EEMEA region,” said Mo Ali Yusuf, CEO, Fuze.“This partnership not only strengthens our commitment to supporting banks and fintechs in adopting crypto solutions but also marks a significant step in building trust and enhancing reliability within the evolving crypto landscape.”

“It is exciting to see Mastercard embracing blockchain technology and moving on-chain. Innovations like Mastercard Crypto Credential program are key to building trust and making digital assets more accessible and user-friendly, especially for joiners from traditional finance,” said Talal Tabba, CEO, CoinMENA.

Crypto Exchanges just have to verify their users with MasterCard

Using Crypto Credential is simple. The crypto exchange first verifies the user under the set of Mastercard Crypto Credential standards. At that point, the user obtains an alias to send and receive funds across all supported exchanges. When a user initiates a transfer, the solution confirms that the recipient’s alias is valid, and that the recipient’s wallet supports the digital asset and associated blockchain. If this is not the case, the sender is notified, and the transaction does not proceed, protecting all parties from potential loss of funds.

While the pilot will initially focus on facilitating peer-to-peer transactions, the potential applications of Crypto Credential are expansive, with future capabilities to include NFTs, ticketing, and other innovative payment solutions, depending on market and compliance requirements.

“As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to mature, we’ve been laser focused on developing innovative services and capabilities that help make crypto more accessible and secure, streamline the transaction process and enhance trust in the ecosystem. In bringing Mastercard Crypto Credential to the EEMEA region, we’re delivering on our vision to increase and instill trust in blockchain technology while also transforming the way that people interact with digital assets,” said Gaurang Shah, Executive Vice President, Head of Core Payments, EEMEA, Mastercard

“As one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in Kazakhstan, licensed by the AIFC, ATAIX Eurasia is focused on building a legal and accessible cryptocurrency infrastructure in the Eurasian and, eventually, global financial markets,” said Аrutyun Poghosyan, CEO ATAIX Eurasia. “That is why we are incredibly excited to join Mastercard’s interregional partnership to implement the crucial and timely Mastercard Crypto Credential technology. We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Mastercard even further.”

CoinMENA and Ripple partnership

CoinMENA, was also recently selected list Ripple’s new RLUSD stablecoin on its platform. CoinMENA is the only crypto broker to be chosen by Ripple to list its stablecoin in the MENA region.

CoinMENA the first and only Crypto exchange in MENA to list Ripple stablecoin

CoinMENA the first and only Crypto exchange in MENA to list Ripple stablecoin

CoinMENA, a regulated crypto broker with licenses in the UAE and Bahrain, is one of the selected crypto exchanges globally to be listing Ripple’s new RLUSD stablecoin on its platform. CoinMENA is the only crypto broker to be chosen by Ripple to list its stablecoin in the MENA region.

Ripple which today launches its Ripple USD (RLUSD) on global exchanges has chosen CoinMENA, Uphold, MoonPay, Archax, Bitso, Bullish, Bitstamp, with Mercado Bitcoin, Reserve, Zero Hash and others expected in the coming weeks.

CoinMENA Founders, Dina Sam’an and Talal Tabbaa commented, “We are proud to be the first and only platform in MENA to list RLUSD, the latest stablecoin in the market. Demand for stablecoins is exploding in the region, driven by diverse and growing use cases, we are seeing from our user base. Stablecoins are by far the most popular use case in the crypto today, and this listing reflects our commitment to providing the latest crypto financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of our users.”

Each RLUSD token is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government bonds, and cash equivalents—designed to ensure its stability, reliability, and liquidity. To maintain the highest standards of transparency, Ripple will publish monthly, third-party attestations of RLUSD’s reserve assets, conducted by an independent auditing firm.

“Early on, Ripple made a deliberate choice to launch our stablecoin under the NYDFS limited purpose trust company charter, widely regarded as the premier regulatory standard worldwide,” said Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO. “As the U.S. moves toward clearer regulations, we expect to see greater adoption of stablecoins like RLUSD, which offer real utility and are backed by years of trust and expertise in the industry.”

Key RLUSD partners include leading global exchanges, market makers, and payment providers, which will drive adoption and usage across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, UK, and Middle East regions.

RLUSD will be utilized for financial use cases and allows institutions to, facilitate instant settlement of cross-border payments, access liquidity for remittance and treasury operations, seamlessly integrate with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, and a reliably bridge between traditional fiat currencies and the crypto ecosystem, ensuring a seamless and efficient transition when entering (on-ramping) or exiting (off-ramping) the crypto space.

It will also be used to provide collateralization for trading tokenized real-world assets such as commodities, securities, and treasuries onchain.

Early next year, Ripple Payments will use RLUSD to facilitate global payments on behalf of its enterprise customers. Ripple Payments has served $70 billion in payments volume and counting, and has near-global coverage with 90+ payout markets, which represent more than 90% coverage of the daily FX market.

 RLUSD is available on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains, offering flexibility and scalability for a broad range of financial use cases.

“Stablecoins could become the backbone of private payments by offering a secure, scalable, and efficient alternative to traditional systems. With its focus on compliance and reliability, RLUSD aims to establish new standards for trust and to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of payments. Joining the Advisory Board provides me an opportunity to counsel RLUSD as it embarks on its journey in the rapidly evolving financial landscape,” said Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

“I am excited to join Ripple’s advisory board at such a pivotal moment for digital finance,” said Kenneth Montgomery, former First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. “Stablecoins are rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of the payments landscape, delivering the speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness that traditional systems often struggle to achieve. I look forward to collaborating with the Ripple team to support the global growth and adoption of RLUSD, unlocking new opportunities for financial inclusion and modernizing the future of payments.”

CoinMENA crypto trading platform makes it easier to trade crypto assets with Mesh

CoinMENA crypto trading platform makes it easier to trade crypto assets with Mesh

CoinMENA, the crypto asset trading platform in MENA, has now made it easier to trade crypto assets, without the hassle of entering long crypto addresses, QR codes or seed phrases, with its recent partnership with Mesh, the connectivity layer for crypto.

As per the press release, the collaboration aims to enhance digital asset transfer services by allowing CoinMENA’s trusted platform to be embedded into Mesh’s product suite, setting new standards for secure and user-friendly crypto services in the region.

With this new partnership, Mesh’s API-based solutions will enhance the overall experience for CoinMENA users using other platforms, with crypto transactions being not only seamless but also more secure. 

With the crypto trade platform joining Mesh’s extensive network of integrations, managing crypto across platforms becomes significantly easier for its users. The integration enables CoinMENA users to access their accounts directly from other platforms without the hassle of long crypto addresses, QR codes, and seed phrases.

“As the leading crypto trading platform in the region, we are thrilled to team up with CoinMENA to help transform the user experience for crypto users in the Middle East,” said Bam Azizi, CEO and Co-Founder of Mesh. “Partnerships like this are essential to our goal of onboarding the next billion users into crypto and we are grateful to partner with companies like CoinMENA who share our vision of creating a more connected and secure financial ecosystem.”

“CoinMENA was established to meet the demand for a trustworthy platform where investors can seamlessly transition between fiat and crypto,” said CoinMENA Co-Founders Talal Tabbaa and Dina Sam’an. “The partnership aligns perfectly with our user’s needs, offering an additional method to fund their crypto wallets and reinforcing our commitment to being the most efficient gateway for MENA investors to access the crypto market.”

This announcement follows a previous one where CoinMENA expanded the range of crypto assets available on its platform through its partnership with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, the leading digital assets infrastructure provider as a liquidity provider. The collaboration will enhance trade efficiency on the platform as well.

UAE and Bahrain CoinMENA expands its crypto offering with Bitpanda

UAE and Bahrain CoinMENA expands its crypto offering with Bitpanda

CoinMENA B.S.C., a crypto asset platform licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and sister company CoinMENA FZE, licensed by the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), have expanded the range of crypto assets available on its platform through its partnership with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, the leading digital assets infrastructure provider as a liquidity provider. The collaboration will enhance trade efficiency on the platform as well.

CoinMENA Co-Founders Dina Sam’an and Talal Tabbaa said, “We are excited to partner with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, an industry leader that shares our commitment to providing top-tier crypto asset trading services. This collaboration will not only enhance trading efficiency but also fulfil one of the most requested features from our users, enabling us to add new crypto assets more rapidly to meet market demands.”

When fully implemented, CoinMENA will have the ability to integrate the most complete range of crypto assets available on the market to meet the demands of its users safely and securely. By integrating Bitpanda Technology Solutions as a liquidity provider, CoinMENA will enhance trading efficiency, and ensure users receive the best possible prices. These improvements will deliver a smoother and more reliable trading experience, reinforcing CoinMENA’s position as a leading crypto asset service provider in the region.

Nadeem Ladki, Global Head, Bitpanda Technology Solutions, added: “The MENA region is one of the most ambitious and innovative regions in the world when it comes to crypto assets. Bitpanda Technology Solutions provides institutions in the region access to one of the broadest ranges of crypto assets available, in a fully modular way, all with a highly regulated and trusted partner.” 

Both Bitpanda and CoinMENA will collaborate closely with respective regulators to ensure full compliance in all future endeavors. In August 2024 CoinMENA announced that they have achieved a new milestone with crypto, fiat trading volumes surpassing $2 billion.

CoinMENA Crypto broker surpasses $2 billion in trading volume

CoinMENA Crypto broker surpasses $2 billion in trading volume

In a recent announcement UAE and Bahrain regulated crypto broker CoinMENA announced that they have achieved a new milestone with crypto, fiat trading volumes surpassing $2 billion.

Dina Saman, Chief Operating Officer, CoinMENA, stated, “I am thrilled to announce that CoinMENA has surpassed $2 billion in trading volume. This milestone is a testament to our remarkable growth and relentless pursuit of excellence. We couldn’t have done it without the unwavering trust of our users. Your confidence in us drives everything we do, and we are profoundly grateful for your support.”

CoinMENA began operations in the MENA back in March 2021 when it was licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain. Its services quickly expanded to cover users across the GCC and MENA region.

Fastforward to December 2023, CoinMENA FZE, a subsidiary of CoinMENA B.S.C. (c), obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license for VA Broker-Dealer services from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).

At the time CoinMENA’s co-founders Dina Sam’an and Talal Tabbaa said: “Thanks to the regulatory clarity from VARA, Dubai is becoming a global hub for crypto and digital asset financial services. Building strong relationships with local regulators has been a priority for us since day one,” said Sam’an. “We are delighted to have received a license from VARA, which further strengthens our market position and gives confidence to our users and investors.”

 Since then CoinMENA has offered many new solutions and offerings to its users, including for example it added Telegram’s The Open Network (TON) to its platform, allowing users to send USDT via the TON blockchain. According to the announcement CoinMENA became the first regional platform to enable USDT withdrawals via the TON network.

Prior to that CoinMENA partnered with Zodia Markets, a UK headquartered digital asset trading business, backed by Standard Chartered enhancing its liquidity on its platform. The partnership provided CoinMENA users with enhanced liquidity and reduced slippage on high-volume trades for G10 and GCC currencies vs a list of vetted and well-researched stablecoins and crypto assets.

In addition CoinMENA also partnered with Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, to provide users with a seamless and secure onramp from fiat to crypto via card deposits.

In March 2024, Talal Tabbaa, noted that the crypto exchange witnessed all-time high in crypto trading volume in February 2024. As he stated, “CoinMENA hit an all-time high in trading volume this February, surpassing January by 80%. January itself set a record with a 64% increase from December.” He explained at the time that the majority of this volume came from institutions, family offices, and high net worth individuals.

Today with surpassing $2 billion in trading volume, Talal Tabbaa stated on LinkedIn, “Super proud of everyone at CoinMENA for crossing the 2 billion USD mark in on/off ramp flows! We are just getting started. I have no doubt that selecting the right partners and team members is the single most important decision. Our collective belief that crypto is a better way to provide financial services and Bitcoin is a better way to save brings us together, and we are committed to continue serving individuals, companies and regulated financial institutions with excellence.”

UAE and Bahrain regulated CoinMENA allows crypto users to send USDT on TON Blockchain

UAE and Bahrain regulated CoinMENA allows crypto users to send USDT on TON Blockchain

UAE and Bahrain regulated CoinMENA crypto broker has added Telegram’s The Open Network (TON) to its platform, allowing users to send USDT via the TON blockchain. According to the announcement CoinMENA becomes the first regional platform to enable USDT withdrawals via the TON network.

TON joins Ethereum’s ERC-20 and TRON’s TRC-20 as the third blockchain available to CoinMENA users for sending USDT.

CoinMENA Co-Founder and Managing Director Dina Sam’an expressed her excitement in a LinkedIn post saying “Users can seamlessly swap their local currencies to USDT at the most competitive market rates and send them to over 900 million Telegram users. I am extremely excited and proud of the team for mobilizing quickly and becoming the first regional platform to enable USDT withdrawals via TON just 10 days after Tether announced launching USDT on TON.”

CoinMENA Co-Founder and CEO Talal Tabbaa added “Stablecoins, particularly USDT, stand out as crypto’s “killer app,” constituting approximately 70% of on-chain transactions and providing access to U.S. dollars for millions worldwide. The rapid adoption of USDT regionally is unsurprising, given its superior and more convenient experience compared to traditional USD wire transfers. Additionally, with many regional currencies pegged to the dollar, using USDT as a medium of exchange mitigates exposure to FX risk. I’m thrilled about this addition and proud that CoinMENA is leading the charge as the first crypto company to offer this in the region”

The announcement adds that this aligns with CoinMENA’s mission to become the simplest and safest way to onboard people onto crypto by providing a reliable onramp to stablecoins, the most popular use case thus far.

CoinMENA has had a string of partnership announcements with formidable players over the past months. The crypto broker recently partnered with Zodia Markets, enhancing liquidity for its platform. It also partnered with Network international to offer secure onramp from Fiat to crypto, and even partnered with Onramp Bitcoin.

CoinMENA and Network International to offer fiat to crypto onramp

CoinMENA and Network International to offer fiat to crypto onramp

Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, collaborated with virtual asset service provider CoinMENA FZE, to provide users with a seamless and secure onramp from fiat to crypto via card deposits.

The announcement was made at a signing ceremony led by Pankaj Kundra, Group Head of Products, Partnerships, and Enterprises at Network International, and Talal Tabbaa, CEO of CoinMENA.

CoinMENA is regulated and licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, and the Central Bank of Bahrain. CoinMENA enables investors to buy, sell, send, receive, and store digital assets safely and securely.

CoinMENA Co-Founders Talal Tabbaa and Dina Sam’an said in a joint statement, “Partnering with Network International, the leading enabler of digital commerce in the MENA region, marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing our users in the UAE with seamless and secure onramps to crypto. With the ability to deposit fiat to their CoinMENA wallet instantly via cards, our users can now experience a streamlined and efficient process. This aligns with our mission to continually enhance the accessibility and convenience of crypto services. We look forward to leveraging Network International’s industry leadership in the UAE and providing the best experience possible for our users.”

Pankaj Kundra, Group Head of Products, Partnerships and Enterprises at Network International, said, “Network’s legacy of 30 years of providing cutting-edge payment solutions allows us to capitalise our experience and expertise across next-generation platforms such as crypto and digital asset financial services. Our collaboration with CoinMENA will provide UAE investors with an additional option to use their cards to fund their CoinMENA wallets.”

He added, “Deposits using cards is the most convenient way for users to fund their crypto wallets. We look forward to supporting CoinMENA by strengthening their onramp capabilities, through our best-in-class N-Genius payment gateway. Our partnership further reaffirms our commitment to streamline digital payments in the region in line with the UAE’s bid to become a financially inclusive and cashless economy.”

Recently CoinMENA expanded its family office, investor and institutional offering through a partnership with Onramp Bitcoin. Onramp is an international Bitcoin asset management company built on multi institutional custody.

Institutional investors lead all time high in crypto volumes at CoinMENA

Institutional investors lead all time high in crypto volumes at CoinMENA

In a recent LinkedIn post, Talal Tabbaa, Co-Founder and CEO at CoinMENA, a regulated crypto broker in both UAE and Bahrain noted that the crypto exchange witnessed all-time high in crypto trading volume in February 2024.

As he stated, “CoinMENA hit an all-time high in trading volume this February, surpassing January by 80%. January itself set a record with a 64% increase from December.”

Interestingly he added that the majority of this volume came from institutions, family offices, and high net worth individuals. He adds, “The majority of this volume came from institutions, family offices, and high-net worth individuals. Retail is picking up, but nowhere near 2021 levels. Google Trends and Coinbase App Store ranking confirm similar trends. 2024 could be the biggest year in bitcoin yet because this is unprecedented in the history of finance.”

His comments on increased institutional interest is backed up by Philippe Bekhazi, CEO of XBTO global who recently told Fastcompany ME media platform that there’s a clear uptake in institutional investments in the international and UAE cryptocurrency markets, with 64% of institutions planning to increase their digital asset allocations in the next three years.

“This maturing market environment influences institutional investors by offering a diversified and technologically advanced investment landscape, enabled by the entry of specialized and regulated digital asset players in the UAE ecosystem,” says Philippe Bekhazi, CEO at XBTO Global.

Tabbaa believes that for the first time, increasing demand is meeting fixed supply. He gives example of ETFs which are alone purchasing over 11,000 BTC, while the daily issuance of Bitcoin is 900 BTC. So there is an obvious shortage.  

This is not just happening in the MENA region, rising bitcoin (BTC) prices have revived a crypto trading frenzy in South Korea, with volumes on local exchanges crossing those in the local stock market. Local media reported that trading volumes on South Korea-based crypto exchanges totalled a record 11.8 trillion won (KRW) on Sunday, or $9 billion at the going USD-KRW exchange rate. These topped Friday’s South Korean stock trading volume of 11.47 trillion won, or $8.7 billion.

CC Data noted that In February, the combined spot and derivatives trading volume on centralized exchanges rose 2.28% to $4.73tn as trading activity remains at a heightened level with Bitcoin nearing new all-time highs.

Tabbaa explains, “ETFs are buying up 12x the daily supply of bitcoin. The halving coming up in April will cut the daily issuance to 450 BTC. Bitcoin price is 9% away from an all-time high. Eventually, everyone will want access to the best-performing asset class in the world.”

He believes that given that Bitcoin price is at an all-time high, and the halving is 36 days away, increasing demand will meet decreasing supply.

With Bitcoin at $73,000 it seems he just might be right!