Moroccan authorities make arrests for crypto fraud operation

Moroccan authorities make arrests for crypto fraud operation

Moroccan authorities have arrested five individuals in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency fraud operation.

The suspects, aged between 24 and 48, were detained earlier this week in Salé, following a complaint received through international law enforcement cooperation channels.

As per the news on Hespress, they are suspected of being involved in a phishing scam that targeted foreign citizens by sending malicious emails. The emails were designed to steal the victims’ digital wallet information containing cryptocurrency, which was then converted into cash via their personal bank accounts.

During the investigation, police seized a sum of money believed to be linked to the criminal activities, along with electronic devices, including a computer and mobile phones, which may contain digital evidence of the hacking operations.

The suspects are currently being held in police custody as part of a preliminary investigation, overseen by the public prosecutor’s office, to uncover the full details of the case and identify all individuals involved in the criminal network.

In April 2024 a 21-year-old Frenchman, Thomas Clausi, was convicted Thursday in Morocco of “fraud” and illegal use of cryptocurrency and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

He was also slapped with a fine of about 3.4 million euros.

Incarcerated since December 23, 2021, Clausi, who presented himself as an entrepreneur before the judge, appeared before the criminal chamber of the court of Casablanca, competent for criminal cases.

He was accused of “fraud” and “payment with foreign currency on Moroccan territory”, in particular for having used bitcoins to buy a luxury car.

This comes a week after the Central Bank governor in Morocco stated that the crypto regulations will soon be out and are currently being adopted.

Crypto.com and MasterCard partner to issue cards in Bahrain

Crypto.com and MasterCard partner to issue cards in Bahrain

Crypto.com which recently secured a crypto payment service provider license in Bahrain has now partnered with Mastercard to directly issue cards on Mastercard’s network. It is a principal license that allows Crypto.com to launch a card in Bahrain powered by Mastercard.

As per the press release, the new program will leverage Mastercard’s trusted, scalable and secure payments network to enable the crypto exchange customers to use their card at over 150 million in-store and online locations worldwide. Users can easily fund their cards through the Crypto.com app using e-money wallets or third party-issued credit and debit cards.

The innovative payment product will be available across all five Crypto.com card tiers, including Black Obsidian, offering rewards up to 8% on spending and will be denominated in USD.

“We’re really proud to be partnering with Mastercard, a global technology leader in the payments industry, and utilising our recently issued Payment Service Provider licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain to launch our world-renowned prepaid card to our users in Bahrain and beyond,” said Karl Mohan, General Manager APAC & MEA of Crypto.com. “Mastercard has shown its support for the digital assets industry by creating a robust card programme service that’s specifically tailored for our customers, allowing us to expand our product offering into new markets whilst proving our continued commitment to the highest levels of security and compliance.”

“We are delighted to welcome Crypto.com as a Mastercard Principal Member. The programme provides a wide range of benefits and opportunities beyond the direct issuance of Mastercards. Crypto.com will now have access to our global network, enabling transactions wherever Mastercard is accepted, our innovative payment solutions powered by cutting-edge technology, and our comprehensive tools for enhancing transaction security and fraud protection,” said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

According to Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer at Crypto.com on LinkedIn, “We launched our first card in Bahrain, with plans to expand to other eligible GCC markets soon!”

Prior to this Crypto.com and Bahrain based BENEFIT, a FinTech and electronic financial transactions services signed an MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) to combine their expertise and help expand the digital assets and fintech ecosystem in Bahrain including areas such as payment integration and prepaid card capabilities.

The crypto exchange even partnered with Bahrain based Beyon Monay, to enhance transaction solutions and explore innovative opportunities in digital payments and AI.

Deribit crypto derivatives exchange receives full license from Dubai’s virtual asset regulator

Deribit crypto derivatives exchange receives full license from Dubai’s virtual asset regulator

Deribit, a crypto derivatives exchange, will be launching its spot and derivatives trading in the UAE and migration of all activities towards Deribit’s Dubai-based entity, Deribit FZE, after it has received its full license from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) of Dubai. It has received its conditional license back in April 2024.

Effective January 1, 2025, all qualified and institutional investors will be welcomed as direct clients of Deribit FZE, while retail clients will continue to be serviced by DRB Panama, now operating as a broker member of Deribit FZE.

As per the press release, this transition reflects Deribit’s focus on regulatory compliance and superior client service, leveraging Dubai’s advanced crypto infrastructure.

Client Transition Deadline: All clients must accept the new terms of service by January 1, 2025.


Mandatory KYC Refresh: Clients who do not complete the KYC process before January 1 will be placed on “Reduce Only” mode, restricting new positions but allowing the closure of existing positions. Deribit will migrate its substantial open interest, currently valued at nearly USD 50 billion, to its Dubai entity.


“Dubai has rapidly positioned itself as a global hub for digital assets, thanks to the visionary efforts of VARA and the UAE government. The city’s forward-looking regulatory environment provides the ideal foundation for Deribit’s growth and innovation. As the crypto industry matures and global regulatory needs evolve, our institutional clients require our regulated trading platform to be able to evolve with the industry. This move underscores our commitment to meeting these expectations while delivering exceptional, best-in-class service to our clients and adhering to the highest standards of transparency and compliance,” said Luuk Strijers, CEO of Deribit FZE.


Unlike other global trading venues establishing new entities, Deribit will consolidate all flow and activities into its Dubai entity. Deribit FZE will be the sole platform offering trading in all our products like spot, perpetuals, futures and options as well as all post-trade activities, all of which are under the supervision of VARA.


According to the press release the migration is a testament to the company’s ongoing mission to shape the future of crypto derivatives trading, ensuring regulatory alignment, operational efficiency, and client satisfaction.

Moroccan Central Bank says crypto regulations in adoption phase

Moroccan Central Bank says crypto regulations in adoption phase

The Moroccan Central Bank’s governor Abdellatif Jouahri announced on November 26th that the digital asset/crypto regulation law has been prepared and is in the adoption phase.


The Moroccan Central Bank also known as Bank Al Maghrib worked on its crypto and digital asset’s regulation alongside the World Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund).


Despite the lack of crypto regulations in Morocco, it is one of the fastest growing crypto markets both globally and in the MENA region. As Per Chainalysis’ Geography of Cryptocurrency report for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2024, Morocco ranked 20th worldwide for crypto adoption. In addition, Morocco received the highest crypto transaction value of MENA’s African bloc comparing it to Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.


The report for 2024 noted, “MENA includes two countries ranked in the top 30 of the global crypto adoption indexes: Türkiye (11th) and Morocco (27th), capturing $137 billion and $12.7 billion of value received, respectively.”
The announcement was made during the High-Level Regional Symposium on Financial Stability.


Jouahri noted, “Bank Al-Maghrib has prepared, with the participation of all stakeholders and with the support of the World Bank, a draft law governing crypto assets which is currently in the adoption process.”


He also mentioned that work in CBDCs ( Central Bank Digital Currencies) and the work the Moroccan government is doing in this domain especially as CBDCs can increase financial inclusion.


He added, “We launched the MDBC project more than three years ago with the aim of anticipating and guiding the strategic choices and decisions of Bank Al-Maghrib in this area. The project also aims to strengthen our capacities and expertise on this complex and multidimensional subject.


The Central Bank of Morocco considers this a long-term undertaking, and has impact on the monetary policy and financial stability.
Earlier this year, Morocco announced its Moroccan digital 2030 strategy to continue $10.35 billion to GDP. As per the strategy, the country seeks to create 240,000 jobs in the digital sector by 2030, which it expects will contribute 100 billion dirhams ($10.36 billion dollars) to the country’s gross domestic product while increasing digital export revenues to 40 billion dirhams ($4.15 billion).
The Moroccan Agency for Digital Development (ADD) will play a central role in supporting the digitalization of public administrations according to the head of the government, while a unified digital portal will standardize administrative procedures across various stages.

Dubai Police collaborates with Crystal Intelligence to identify crypto crimes in digital era

Dubai Police collaborates with Crystal Intelligence to identify crypto crimes in digital era

Crystal Intelligence an advanced blockchain analytics and on-the-ground intelligence firm empowering financial institutions, governments & regulators in the fight against cryptocurrency crime, has signed an MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) with Dubai Police in specific the Department of Criminal Investigation.

As per the blog post, the partnership aims to promote collaboration in identifying and predicting future economic crimes, an increasingly important issue as digital threats continue to evolve.

“At Dubai Police, we are committed to strengthening our security infrastructure by collaborating with internal and external partners. Based on global studies, the General Department of Criminal Investigation develops strategic plans that anticipate future security challenges, including economic crimes, which are becoming more sophisticated,” stated Brigadier Al Shamsi. “As countries and individuals increasingly rely on technology in both professional and personal spheres, we must adapt to these trends to ensure that Dubai remains the safest city in the world.”

Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, describing the MoU as a strategic milestone. “This partnership underscores Crystal Intelligence’s commitment to working closely with Dubai Police to share knowledge and expertise across various fields. Together, we aim to develop and implement high-impact initiatives and projects that will strengthen our collaboration,” Gupta added.

A month prior to this Crystal Intelligence announced that BitOasis, crypto exchange would be utilizing Crystal’s advanced blockchain analytics and anti-money laundering (AML) solutions setting a new standard for compliance and security in the region.

Using Crystal Intelligence AML and transaction monitoring technology, BitOasis would have access to real-time insights and analytics designed to prevent fraud and ensure compliance with regional regulations.

At the time of the announcement, Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, notes, “The UAE, with its forward-thinking approach, is poised to become the Crypto Capital of the world. With our blockchain intelligence expertise, we are proud to empower licensed firms like BitOasis to keep their platform and users safe.”

By integrating Crystal’s blockchain intelligence capabilities, BitOasis will not only bolster its compliance framework but also lead the way in establishing best practices for crypto regulations in the region. The partnership underscores the importance of aligning technological innovation with robust regulatory standards, ensuring that the growth of the digital assets space is both secure and sustainable.

Crystal’s recent announcement of opening a new office in Dubai, highlighting its commitment to serving the MENA region. As regulations continue to evolve in this fast-paced sector, Crystal aims to provide its partners with the tools they need to stay ahead of compliance challenges.

Bahrain Singapore Gulf Bank to offer digital asset custody services

Bahrain Singapore Gulf Bank to offer digital asset custody services

Operating under full regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain, Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) has launched in Bahrain to offer comprehensive digital banking services to corporate customers in the digital economy to manage their traditional financial and digital assets on a single platform.

Global clients can onboard through Singapore Gulf Bank’s remote digital on-boarding solutions. SGB will extend its digital banking services to individual clients by the end of the year.

In addition to regular corporate banking services, SGB will provide a real-time settlement network, digital assets custody and intuitive trading solutions, all underpinned by robust AML/KYC measures. As per the announcement this enables businesses to manage their finances flexibly, whether they are traditional or digital assets – facilitating their participation in the digital economy.

Edmund Lee, Founding Chairman of the Board of SGB, stated, “We’re building the foundation for a new era of global finance where traditional and digital worlds converge to enable businesses to operate anytime and anywhere.”

H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, “The launch of SGB marks a pivotal moment in deepening financial connectivity between MENA and Asian markets through Bahrain. As the digital economy continues to grow, our kingdom will serve as a gateway connecting Asian enterprises with opportunities across traditional and digital financial markets. SGB is a testament to Bahrain’s pro-innovation environment and our ability to attract and anchor ambitious global enterprises.”

H.E. Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, commented: “SGB’s launch demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to fostering innovation in financial services while upholding the highest regulatory standards. With SGB, Bahrain will serve as a crucial nexus that connects businesses around the world and bridges traditional and digital financial services.”

SGB is pioneering a new era of banking where everyone can easily access and manage digital assets alongside traditional assets within one integrated network. Underpinned by its compliance-first approach, SGB will serve as a vital link between mainstream financial services and the rapidly advancing digital asset economy, empowering the next billion users with access to the future of finance.

In early October SINGAPORE Gulf Bank (SGB) appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Ali AlShamma as chief financial officer and ex-Sygnum executive Elaine Leong as chief operating officer. These two hires reinforce the mission of SGB to provide frictionless interaction between digital and traditional finance, said the digital bank.

Bahrain Beyon Money partners with Crypto.com for digital payments and AI

Bahrain Beyon Money partners with Crypto.com for digital payments and AI

Bahrain based Beyon Monay, and Crypto.com have partnered to enhance transaction solutions and explore innovative opportunities in digital payments and AI.

As per the press release, the companies will explore collaborations in the transaction and payments sectors, as well as pursue joint innovation in artificial intelligence and open banking.

The partnership will leverage Beyon Money’s role as a financial super-app and payment platform, along with Crypto.com’s established retail products. The aim is to improve the overall experience for customers through enhanced services.

“As we continue to expand our presence in Bahrain, we are excited to investigate ways we can partner with Beyon Money, who are really leading the way in the digital payments space in the Kingdom,” said Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com.

“Beyon Money has an exciting product structure and reach in Bahrain, with a solid reputation and strong user base and by working together we hope to grow both of our brand’s innovative product range and services we provide to our Bahrain customers.”

“Beyon Money is committed to forging partnerships with leading global players,” states Roberto Mancone, CEO of Beyon Money. “Our collaboration with Crypto.com, which has recently obtained its Payment Service Provider license in Bahrain, will focus on co-marketing and promoting our respective cards. We will also work on integrating our platforms to streamline cryptocurrency purchases on the Crypto.com app, along with other projects that explore innovative technologies creating value through tangible use cases for our clients.

Previously, Crypto.com and Bahrain based BENEFIT, a FinTech and electronic financial transactions services signed an MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) which aims at discussing combining their expertise and help expand the digital assets and fintech ecosystem in Bahrain including areas such as payment integration and prepaid card capabilities.

In September 2024, Crypto.com received a crypto payment service provider license from the Central Bank of Bahrain allowing it to offer e-money and fiat based payment services regionally, including prepaid cards.

Crypto.com had already received a crypto exchange license from Dubai’s virtual asset regulator in UAE, and considers this license as part of its expansion plans in the GCC region.

RAIN Crypto broker appoints new General Manager for Bahrain

RAIN Crypto broker appoints new General Manager for Bahrain

Rain crypto broker in Bahrain has appointed a new General Manager, replacing Mohamed Ateeq, its previous GM of four years.

In an Instagram post Rain commented, “We would like to announce that after more than 4 years of exceptional service, Mohamed Ateeq will be stepping down as General Manager of Rain Bahrain. Mohamed’s loyalty and leadership were instrumental in helping Rain become the first fully licensed crypto brokerage in the Gulf, setting a foundation for crypto adoption across the region. His deep understanding of the market, dedication to innovation, and commitment to regulatory excellence have been key to Rain’s success in pioneering the industry in the Middle East.”

The new General Manager is Mr. Geoff Stecyk, who has a strong banking background.

Rain notes, “Geoff Stecyk as our new General Manager will guide Rain Bahrain through its next stage of growth and continued market leadership.”

Rain was the first crypto broker to receive a license in Bahrain. In 2023 RAIN Bahrain noted that it had traded $484 million worth of crypto since its inception in 2019 with Ethereum the most traded crypto asset followed by XRP. It also noted that its customer base at the time was 75,000 from Bahrain residents.

In May 2024, in a blog post, RAIN Crypto exchange regulated in both Bahrain and the UAE issued a statement replying to the report by ZachXBT that the exchange had likely been exploited for $14.8 million, addressing the security incident involving the exchange. They noted” We would like our customers to know that the situation has been resolved. We assure you that we have already taken all the necessary steps to address this matter to protect customer funds.”

The crypto exchange was replying to the news circulating that “It appeared the crypto exchange Rain was likely exploited for $14.8M on April 29, 2024 after their BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP wallets saw suspicious outflows. Funds were quickly transferred to instant exchanges and swapped for BTC and ETH.”

OKX to use Standard Chartered for crypto custody

OKX to use Standard Chartered for crypto custody

OKX, cryptocurrency exchange and global onchain technology company, will be utilizing Standard Chartered, cross-border bank connecting the world’s most dynamic markets, as a third-party crypto custodian for its global institutional business.

The custody agreement with Standard Chartered is a significant addition to OKX’s comprehensive suite of institutional services, which includes advanced trading capabilities, robust risk management tools and enhanced custody solutions. By leveraging Standard Chartered’s extensive global banking expertise and rigorous risk management framework, OKX aims to offer institutional investors a broader range of secure and reliable custody solutions.

OKX Global Chief Commercial Officer Lennix Lai said, “We selected Standard Chartered as an institutional custodian partner to enhance our offering and accelerate the integration of digital assets within the traditional financial ecosystem. Standard Chartered’s extensive global banking expertise and unwavering commitment to security aligns with our objective to provide exceptional crypto services and reinforces the confidence of our institutional clients in managing their digital assets.”

Standard Chartered Global Head of Financing & Securities Services Margaret Harwood-Jones said “We are committed to offering custodial services that meet the highest standards of safety and compliance. Serving as OKX’s third-party custodian allows us to extend our expertise into the evolving cryptocurrency sector, providing institutional investors with the assurance they require.”

This collaboration is expected to attract increased institutional participation in the digital asset market, contributing to a more mature environment for institutions globally. It aligns with the findings of a recently published OKX-commissioned research brief authored by Economist Impact, entitled “Digital assets as the new alternative for institutional investors: market dynamics, opportunities and challenges,” which highlights institutional investors’ view that digital assets are an inevitable institutional opportunity. The report also finds that 80% of traditional and crypto hedge funds utilizing digital assets employ third-party custodians, highlighting strong demand for segregation of duties related to trade execution and asset custody.

Prior to this announcement Brevan Howard became the first client for Standard Chartered regulated crypto custody service out of DIFC. DIFC ( Dubai International Financial center) regulator DFSA ( Dubai Financial has granted a license to Standard Chartered for its digital asset custody service in the UAE. 

UAE a source of significant amount of crypto trading for Brevan Howard

UAE a source of significant amount of crypto trading for Brevan Howard

 During the AIM Conference in Dubai, Brevan Howard a global hedge fund management fund which recently opened its offices in Abu Dhabi UAE noted that it does a significant amount of its crypto trading from the United Arab Emirates. Ryan Taylor, Group head of compliance at Brevan Howard stated that this was because of the country’s sensible regulations.

Taylor stated, “The regulators in the UAE are hard, but they want the industry to fly and so they write sensible regulations and they are prepared to talk to the industry in order to evolve those regulations.”

Taylor said that Brevan Howard’s crypto trading operations represented about $2 billion of the firm’s total strategies which he said were over $30 billion. Brevan Howard has become the first global hedge fund to have 100 employees in the United Arab Emirates.

The statements come soon after Brevan Howard became the first client for Standard Chartered regulated crypto custody service out of DIFC.

In May 2024, Standard Chartered announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to collaborate on digital assets, including digital asset custody through its Zodia Custody entity. The now licensed service will allow clients to safekeep their Ethereum and Bitcoin cryptocurrencies as a start.

Brevan Howard Digital, the dedicated crypto and digital asset division of Brevan Howard, is confirmed as the inaugural client for the product.

During the announcement, Gautam Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Brevan Howard Digital commented, “This is a significant win for the UAE and the wider digital asset industry. Standard Chartered’s global reputation and demonstrated commitment to this space adds a layer of credibility that is meaningful for institutional adoption. The development of the institutional infrastructure within the asset class and region supports our established business within the ADGM in its continued expansion and our ongoing efforts toward improving and reinforcing standards in the digital asset ecosystem.” 

Brevan Howard, which manages $35bn in assets, opened its Abu Dhabi office in February 2023.