HODL 2025 ends with a move to KSA in December

HODL 2025 ends with a move to KSA in December

HODL 2025 concluded its highly Dubai edition at Madinat Jumeirah, bringing together a powerful mix of blockchain pioneers, Web3 innovators, DeFi leaders, regulators, and institutional investors from across the globe. The summit, held in alignment with the Dubai FinTech Summit as part of the broader effort to shape the future of finance in the region, reinforced HODL’s position as a leading platform for collaboration and innovation in the decentralized economy.


This edition marked a major milestone in the HODL journey exploring the Future of Decentralized Finance and Web3 in the MENA Region

Over two days, the summit featured 50+ sessions that explored next-generation themes like:
• Blockchain Market Trends 2025
• Innovative Governance for Virtual Assets
• AI x Blockchain: Converging Technologies
• DeFi Evolution and Banking Disruption
• Tokenization of Real-World Assets
• NFTs and the Metaverse Frontier

Attendees included key decision-makers from governments, blockchain networks, crypto exchanges, venture funds, and DAOs, along with founders, CTOs, developers, and asset managers.

“HODL 2025 in Dubai brought together a powerful mix of visionaries shaping the future of digital finance. As we head to Riyadh, we aim to build on this momentum and further accelerate Web3 and blockchain innovation across the region.” Mohammed Saleem, Founder & Chairman of Trescon, the organisers of HODL.

During the Crypto Rulebook: Global Best Practices & Regulatory Measures panel discussion, Dyma Budorin expressed that “We want to have the best ecosystem for entrepreneurs to run their business.”


In the same session, Samir Safar-Aly emphasized that “Regulations need to catch up and work together.”


During the Insuring the Future of Crypto: Bridging Risk & Innovation in the Digital Asset Economy session, Joseph Ziolkowski stated that “Insurance has been a bedrock component of sustainability; it is a $6 trillion market.”

HODL 2025 also hosted high-level networking sessions and investor roundtables, providing a fertile ground for deal-making and strategic partnerships. The event was supported by an impressive roster of sponsors and featured in leading media publications HODL 2025 is proudly supported by leading media outlets, including CNN Business Arabic as the Official Media Partner, Khaleej Times as the Exclusive Media Partner, Entrepreneur Middle East as the Ecosystem Partner, Arabian Business as the Business Media Partner, and ZEX PR Wire as the Digital PR Partner — collectively amplifying its global reach..


HODL 2025 is powered by a strong lineup of sponsors, with Liquid Loans.io as the Platinum Sponsor, Coinvoyage as the After Party Sponsor, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Gofaizen & Sherle as Gold Sponsors, Facephi as the Silver Sponsor, and Skygate Network, FMCPay, Pays Solutions, and PEP as Bronze Sponsors.

HODL 2025 ended with an announcement of HODL Riyadh KSA in December of this year. This comes as Saudi Arabia rapidly emerges as a global tech and finance hub, driven by bold initiatives under Vision 2030, the country is making significant strides in the digital asset and blockchain space. With regulatory clarity evolving and institutional interest accelerating, Riyadh presents a strategic next stop for the HODL platform.

HODL Riyadh will serve as the most important gathering of Web3 leaders, investors, policy-makers, and innovators in the Kingdom – connecting the region’s ambitions with global blockchain ecosystems. This upcoming edition is expected to focus on:
• Regulatory frameworks supporting virtual assets and tokenization
• Institutional DeFi and digital asset adoption
• Public-private collaboration on blockchain infrastructure
• Web3 innovation in financial services, real estate, and logistics

Eric Trump reveals the stablecoin behind UAE’s $2 billion Binance investment

Eric Trump reveals the stablecoin behind UAE’s $2 billion Binance investment

Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, during his participation at Token 2049 demystified the stablecoin behind the deal that was made between UAE sovereign wealth fund MGX and Binance crypto exchange. The $2 billion investment by MGX into Binance was announced earlier this year, yet the stablecoin mentioned for carrying out the deal remained a mystery.

MGX, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security advisor and a brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, backed not only by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala but also G42 invested 2 percent of its 100 billion investment vehicle into the world leading crypto exchange Binance.

At Token 2049 Dubai, Eric Trump demystified it stating the the World Liberty Financial USD stablecoin (USD1) is the one that will be used for the UAE MGX Binance deal, while noting that the USD1 would integrate with the Tron network.

Trump announced that the WLF USD stablecoin (USD1) was selected as the official stablecoin for MGX’s $2 billion investment in Binance. Zach Witkoff, the Co-founder of World Liberty Financial, teased more future partnerships for the DeFi protocol, adding that the platform aimed to establish USD1 as the preferred stablecoin in the DeFi and CeFi ecosystem, and the WLF team was working really hard on getting integrations into traditional retail point of sale systems.

“We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us,” said Witkoff, who is the son of the White House envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. “It’s only the beginning.”

Trump disclosed that Abu Dhabi’s MGX will use the USD1 stablecoin to settle a $2 billion investment into Binance in one of crypto’s largest funding deals, marking the investment firm’s first venture into the crypto space.

Trump mentioned that sending funds internationally through SWIFT was slow, costly, and complex, emphasizing that crypto [almost] made banks redundant. An analysis report published by Statrys said the average transaction time on the SWIFT payment network was 20 hours and seven minutes. Additionally, 75% of SWIFT transactions involve one or two intermediary banks, meaning that these average 1 day and 11 hours to settle. However, a USDT or USDC stablecoin transaction on Ethereum settles within two to five minutes.

“USD1 will become one of the most transparent and regulated stablecoins in the world…not only do we want to create a product in our stable point USD, one that can be sent across borders in a very seamless way, but transparency and frankly, consumer safety is paramount…”

ResolvLabs raises $10 million led by CyberFund

ResolvLabs raises $10 million led by CyberFund

ResolvLabs, a Delta-Neutral Stablecoin which offers delta-neutral yield strategy to USR stablecoin holders, inspired by structured finance products, has raised $10 million. The Co-Founder, and CEO Ivan Koslov, is based in Dubai UAE, yet ResolvLabs has no headquarters or location.

 The fundraising was led by Cyber.Fund and Maven11, with Coinbase Ventures, SCB Limited, Arrington Capital, Animoca Ventures also participating. As per the X post, ” With our target at $500k and oversubscription x10 we allocated $600k, appreciating the interest and support.”

In the coming months, the protocol plans to onboard additional yield sources, including BTC-based strategies, expand to new chains, and deepen integrations with DeFi partners and institutional asset managers.

As per the post their mission is to build a crypto yield powerhouse, empowering users and builders across DeFi to access secure, transparent yield at the protocol layer.

Animoca Ventures on an X post noted that they were proud to support ResolvLabs as they unlock secure, protocol-level yield, expanding to BTC strategies, new chains, and stronger DeFi and institutional integrations. Crypto yield demands trust, transparency, and talent. They’re delivering all three.

While delta-neutral backing provides great benefits, it also comes with risks. And stablecoin is only stable until it is not. That is why they have isolated these risks from the stablecoin and channeled them into a scalable tokenized protection layer, represented by Resolv Liquidity Pool (RLP), which is great for leveraged delta-neutral yield farming.

Resolv Labs, is the firm behind the $450 million decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Resolv. “I view stablecoins as the perfect rails for yield distribution,” Ivan Kozlov, founder and CEO of Resolv, said in an interview with CoinDesk. “This may actually become larger than transaction stablecoins like [Tether’s] USDT in the future.”

With the new capital raise, Resolv plans to expand its yield sources to include bitcoin (BTC)-based strategies and deepening its integrations with institutional digital asset managers, Kozlov said. The protocol also aims to expand to new blockchains, widening its reach beyond early crypto adopters.

UAE Digital Bank implements Infosys Finacle on Microsoft Azure to integrate TradFi and DeFi

UAE Digital Bank implements Infosys Finacle on Microsoft Azure to integrate TradFi and DeFi

Infosys an Indian multinational technology company that offers business consulting, information technology, and outsourcing services, utilizing its Finacle product offering on Microsoft Azure has provided the first digital bank in UAE (they did not name the bank), which could be Liv Bank, a subsidiary of Emirates NBD, given it has publicized itself as being the first digital bank in the UAE, with Finacle on Cloud, a cloud-native solution that accelerates cloud adoption which works to toward digital banking, integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) into their operations.

As per a Microsoft blog post, the first licensed digital bank in the UAE, aimed to tap into the power of advanced data capabilities to simplify and upgrade the customer experience and provide secure, reliable, and innovative solutions through blockchain and AI technologies. After evaluating various technology platforms, looking for capabilities that would help them successfully integrate traditional finance (TradFi) and DeFi. Their ultimate goal being to redefine the banking landscape by streamlining financial services and integrating AI and blockchain technologies into their operations. To accomplish this, they were seeking a composable architectural design and event-driven API on a cloud-native platform that offered agility and security.

The blog adds, ” Ultimately, after comparing many solutions, they decided they wanted to go beyond the traditionally defined core systems so many financial institutions rely on, and they instead adopted Finacle on Microsoft Azure, thanks to its functional richness, market-specific experience, long-term viability, operational performance, total cost of ownership (TCO), and flexibility.”

“A customer-centric revolution is reshaping corporate banking,” said Sriranga N. Sampathkumar, VP and GM – Middle East and Africa, at Infosys. “This bank is spearheading this change with AI, actively shaping the future of banking through innovation and the strategic integration of digital assets.”


Sampathkumar explained, “The bank’s swift evolution from a digital to an AI-driven bank was made possible by the seamless deployment of the Finacle on Azure.”

Using Finacle the bank can process a vast amount of data and perform sophisticated analytics—all resulting in the ability to innovate and integrate emergent technologies like AI, blockchain, and digital asset management and sit at the forefront of the digital banking evolution.

They also report that Microsoft Azure has been a crucial part of their solution; choosing Azure has reportedly provided them with a high-performing, scalable, and secure foundation upon which to build the bank of the future. The bank has active connectivity and immediate recovery from one site to another, due to the cloud footprint offered by Azure, including Microsoft datacenters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“By using the combined strength of Finacle’s innovative solution suite and Microsoft Azure’s robust cloud platform, this digital bank delivers a distinct, world-class experience, showcasing the essential agility, flexibility, and resilience needed to transform banking,” Sampathkumar said.

This comes as the UAE Bank Federation showcases how UAE banks are moving into the smart banking era with AI and Blockchain technologies among others.

UAE Mantra Chain launches $108 million blockchain tokenization Fund

UAE Mantra Chain launches $108 million blockchain tokenization Fund

MANTRA Chain, a layer 1 blockchain purpose-built for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), today announced the launch of the MANTRA Ecosystem Fund (MEF), a $108,888,888 million investment initiative designed to accelerate the growth and adoption of projects within the MANTRA ecosystem.

As per the press release the MEF arrives after MANTRA became the first DeFi platform to successfully obtain a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), to operate as a Virtual Asset Exchange, as well as provide Broker-Dealer and Management and Investment Services. ‍

The MEF will deploy up to $108,888,888 million over the next four years to support high-potential blockchain projects around the world. The MEF will serve as a strategic growth engine, providing capital to startups alongside globally renowned investment firms.

Investment opportunities will be sourced through MANTRA’s vast partner network, including leading incubators and accelerators, and capital partners such as Laser Digital, Shorooq, Brevan Howard Digital, Valor Capital, Three Point Capital, Amber Group, Manifold, UoB Venture, DAMAC, Fuse, LVNA Capital, Forte, and many more. This extensive global reach will ensure that the MEF gains exposure to top-tier projects from around the world.

“In an era where blockchain technology is revolutionizing finance, the MEF will serve as a catalyst for groundbreaking projects that drive real-world adoption through a focus upon the tokenization of real world assets,” said John Patrick Mullin, CEO and founder of MANTRA.

“By aligning with top investors and incubators, we are opening doors for visionary founders and teams to join us in building and creating a thriving ecosystem and bringing more of the world on-chain.”

Gideon Daitz, partner at Three Point Capital, who will lead the MEF said, “Our primary mission with the MEF is to support the development of RWA tokenization globally, empowering teams with capital, network, and advice to put the world’s highest-quality assets on-chain. We are primarily focused on building out the MANTRA ecosystem, but we genuinely believe in playing a non-zero-sum game, where collaboration and a broad open-arms policy will serve our community and industry best.”

Further adding, “We are seeking to make high conviction, resource heavy developments into fewer more focused teams, ultimately fostering stronger and more ingrained ties through our diverse network of resources.”

Mantra Chain itself had previously raised $11 million led by Shorooq partners.

UAE based Wisdomise reaps $3.8 million in revenue

UAE based Wisdomise reaps $3.8 million in revenue

Wisdomise is a Swiss AI company with offices in UAE and Estonia, offering software solutions for wealth management to crypto retail and institutional clients with their CeDeFi Wealth Management Platform has reaped $3.8 million in revenues since its launch.

With a vision to democratize wealth creation using AI, Blockchain and other technologies, backed by global and MENA based investors such as Venture Souk, the company has already racked in $3.8M in revenue, and $30 million in trading volume in 2 months.


In 2024 the company raised $9.5 million with contributions from Chainlink Labs, SingularityDAO, VentureSouq, Pontinova Invest, Cetacean Capital, and ODE Capital. The funds are being used to enhance Wisdomise’s deep tech foundation, focusing on AI/ML, Blockchain, and Quant Finance, and supporting the development of a Financial Intelligence SuperApp.

The capital injection built on Wisdomise’s investment history, including $6.5 million raised in Seed and Pre-Series A rounds in the past two years. The Pre-Series A round in September 2023 valued the company at $75 million post-money.

According to the company, Wisdomise is crypto’s smartest all-in-1 AI trading platform out there, redefining the trading experience of users by saving time, cutting risk & boosting yield for them. Real-time AI Insight Agents analyze millions of market & social media data to identify patterns & catch trends early on, while AI Trading Agents automate & optimize trade execution on CEXs & DEXs. Soon, Wisdomise’s AI Agent Builder will let users create custom, fully autonomous agents for intelligent, automated wealth management.

“The recent funding round is a significant stride in our mission to empower everyone on earth to participate in the exciting world of digital assets. At Wisdomise, we are dedicated to harnessing the power of AI and innovative financial instruments to build a platform that removes barriers to entry and fosters informed decision-making for active traders and passive investors,” Dr. Fardad Zand, CEO and co-founder of Wisdomise. “This additional capital will fuel our efforts to further enhance our deep tech foundation (across three key dimensions: AI/ML, Blockchain, and Quant Finance) and reach new heights, ultimately democratizing access to the immense potential of digital assets and contributing to financial inclusion and independence globally.”

UAE MGX enters crypto ecosystem with an investment of $2 billion into Binance

UAE MGX enters crypto ecosystem with an investment of $2 billion into Binance

UAE based MGX, an AI and advanced tech investor has invested $2 billion into Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange licensed in the UAE.

As per the blog post, the transaction, is the first institutional investment in Binance to date. They note that it marks a significant step in advancing digital asset adoption and reinforcing blockchain’s role in global finance. It is also the single largest investment into a crypto company and the largest investment ever paid in crypto more precisely a stablecoin.

This investment represents MGX’s first entry into the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors, securing a minority stake in Binance as part of a broader strategy to support blockchain’s transformative impact on society. By partnering with the leading industry player, MGX aims to enable innovation at the intersection of AI, blockchain technology and finance.

Binance is larger than the next several cryptocurrency exchanges combined by trading volume, boasting over 260 million registered users and surpassing $100 trillion in cumulative trading volume.

Ahmed Yahia, Managing Director & CEO, MGX, noted that MGX’s investment in Binance reflects their commitment to advancing blockchain’s transformative potential for digital finance. He stated, “As institutional adoption accelerates, the need for secure, compliant, and scalable blockchain infrastructure and solutions has never been greater. Binance has long been a driving force in cryptocurrency innovation, from exchange technology and tokenization to staking and payments. Together, we are committed to building a more inclusive and robust digital finance ecosystem.”

Binance CEO, Richard Teng, added, “This investment by MGX is a significant milestone for the crypto industry and for Binance. Together, we are shaping the future of digital finance. Our ongoing investments in security and compliance reinforce our mission to foster a secure and trusted digital financial ecosystem.”

UAE based Brevan Howard Digital deploys $20 million of assets on Kinto DeFi L2 platform

UAE based Brevan Howard Digital deploys $20 million of assets on Kinto DeFi L2 platform

The UAE branch of Brevan Howard Digital has deployed $20M in assets on Kinto, a Blockchain DeFi financial portal which rewards active participants such as traditional financial entities who deposit assets on-chain with token emissions.

As per the press release, Kinto enables financial institutions to deploy capital on-chain while meeting their strict legal and compliance requirements. Kinto is the only L2 that has native KYC and AML at the blockchain level, default wallet insurance and extensive security features.

Kinto’s mining program rewards active participants who deposit assets on-chain with token emissions. The mining program will be active for 10 years, with rewards decreasing over time. Brevan Howard Digital, through its Abu Dhabi branch, became one of the first major traditional financial firms to leverage its digital assets to participate in Kinto’s mining program.

Kinto’s CEO and co-founder, Ramon Recuero, believes that digital asset management platforms like Brevan Howard Digital are ahead of the curve and that participation in on-chain in programs like Kinto’s mining program will steadily increase. He expects similar institutions to become more prominent within the ecosystem over the coming months: “Institutions have been waiting for two things: regulatory clarity and compliance features. Now, through Kinto, financial institutions don’t need to wait any longer.”

UAE Sigma Capital venture firm launches $100 million Web3 fund

UAE Sigma Capital venture firm launches $100 million Web3 fund

UAE based Sigma Capital, a Web3 early-stage venture firm, has launched a $100 million fund dedicated to accelerating the next wave of Web3 innovation in the Middle East and globally. As per the press release, the fund launch spotlights the UAE’s growing role as a global hub for the Web3 & Blockchain sector.


The fund will focus on early-stage venture investments in transformative areas such as DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, real-world asset tokenization, gaming and the metaverse.

Sigma Capital will actively manage a portfolio of liquid tokens, seizing market opportunities to generate consistent returns. The fund will also leverage high-yield DeFi strategies to optimize portfolio performance and invest in high growth crypto venture funds that broaden exposure to emerging innovations.


Vineet Budki,an expert in the Web3 space, and the former CEO and Managing Partner of Cypher Capital, also a Web3 VC based out of UAE, will lead the fund.

Vineet spearheaded over 300+ investments in high-profile projects, including Mysten Labs, Sei Network, Casper Labs, Web3Auth, Casper labs, Manta network, Mocaverse, Peak network and MyPetHooligan.


The Sigma Capital Team has years of experience in the Blockchain investing space and have been invested or partnered with multiple reputed players in the Blockchain space which include Polygon Technology, Morningstar Ventures, Blockchain Founders Fund, Woodstock Fund and many others.


Vineet Budki, CEO and Managing Partner of Sigma Capital, said, “We envision a digital economy that is more open, inclusive, and innovative. The UAE’s dynamic economy and forward-thinking regulatory environment provide the perfect backdrop for Web3 innovation. This fund empowers startups with capital, equips them with access to our extensive network and expertise, and enables them to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.”


Sandeep Naliwal, Founder Polygon Technology one of the leading players in the Blockchain space noted, “ Vineet’s track record as a visionary leader in Web3 speaks for itself. His deep understanding of market dynamics and foresight in nurturing high-impact projects have been pivotal in advancing the ecosystem. The launch of Sigma Capital’s $100 million fund is a testament to his expertise and the UAE’s emergence as a global hub for blockchain innovation. I have no doubt this fund will catalyze the next wave of groundbreaking startups and solidify the region’s role in the decentralized economy.”


Sigma Capital plans to deploy investments across 100 early-stage projects, 25 liquid tokens, and 10 fund-of-fund allocations over the next three years. The firm’s strategic edge lies in its proven expertise and global reach, leveraging its network to provide access to key exchanges, market makers, exchanges, launchpads and opinion leaders.

Danilo S. Carlucci, Founder & CEO at Morningstar Ventures, and a key partner in the fund sdded, “Since our establishment in Dubai in 2020, Morningstar Ventures has been committed to supporting transformative projects and bold founders that push the boundaries of blockchain innovation. Sigma Capital’s $100 million fund is a testament to the region’s growing influence in blockchain and financial technology. It will support the growth of Web3 startups and further solidify the region’s position as a leader in financial innovation.”


Sigma Capital collaborates with Web3 hubs across 10 global cities, providing portfolio companies with deep market insights and comprehensive support to enable success in a competitive market. By combining a diversified approach with deep market access, Sigma Capital aims to drive sustainable growth in both the Global and GCC Web3 ecosystem.


The firm’s dual presence in Dubai and Singapore, coupled with regulatory oversight from the Cayman Islands, ensures access to global opportunities while maintaining a strong compliance framework.

In December 2024, The Hashgraph Group (THG), the Swiss-based international business, technology, and investment firm that operates exclusively within the Hedera ecosystem, secured a fund management license through its subsidiary Hashgraph Ventures Manager Ltd in ADGM planned to launch a $100 million global venture fund (Hashgraph Venture Fund-I). The strategic Web3 venture fund would focus on generating attractive long-term returns by investing in proven early-stage and well-established companies utilizing deep technologies to build and commercialize enterprise-grade solutions and products for the Web3 economy.

Web3 Blockchain market to reach $104 billion by 2032

Web3 Blockchain market to reach $104 billion by 2032

The SNS Insider report has indicated that the Web 3.0 blockchain market size which was valued at USD 3.59 billion in 2023 is expected to grow to USD 104.04 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 45.47% over the forecast period of 2024-2032.

According to the Web3 report by 2023, there were over 3,000 active dApps, with decentralized finance applications contributing a substantial portion of the market’s value.

The total value locked in DeFi reached an estimated USD 60 billion in 2023, reflecting the rising demand for decentralized financial services.

Additionally, the non-fungible token industry, which has transformed industries like art and gaming, saw sales surpassing in 2023, a notable increase compared to previous years.

Smart contracts have also been pivotal in accelerating Web 3.0 adoption. By 2023, Ethereum, the leading blockchain for smart contracts, processed over 1.5 million smart contract executions daily, demonstrating the widespread use of blockchain-based automation across sectors such as supply chain management, insurance, and healthcare.

Finally, in 2023, venture capital investments in blockchain startups reached USD 30 billion, highlighting the growing interest in Web 3.0 technologies. These investments are expected to drive further innovation and the development of more advanced blockchain solutions in the coming years.