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.

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.

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.

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 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.”

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 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.

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.

Chainlink Labs, one of the primary contributing developers of Chainlink, the standard for DeFi and onchain finance, has expanded its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and set up an office and an entity in Abu Dhabi under the Registration Authority of ADGM.

Global finance is moving onchain. Chainlink Labs is at the center of this massive shift, working with everyone from financial market infrastructures to asset managers to top DeFi protocols. As per their website they offer a world-class team of over 600 developers, researchers, and capital markets experts with deep experience in cryptography and decentralized systems and a singular vision to build Chainlink into the global standard for onchain finance.

Chainlink Labs plans to utilize its local presence in ADGM to expand its network of strategic partnerships with financial market infrastructures and financial institutions, better serve its global ecosystem, and continue to build key relationships in the region as demand for tokenized assets surges.

Angie Walker, Global Head of Banking and Capital Markets at Chainlink Labs. Senior Executive Officer at Chainlink Labs Abu Dhabi said, “The MENA region has become a global destination for innovators from around the world and a hub for the adoption of onchain finance. We are excited to expand the global footprint of the Chainlink standard by establishing a presence in Abu Dhabi and working closely with key financial market infrastructures and financial institutions in the region to bring tokenized assets to production.”

Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Registration Authority CEO at ADGM noted, “We welcome Chainlink Labs, one of the primary contributing developers of Chainlink—the standard for onchain finance—on its recent expansion with a dedicated presence within ADGM. Chainlink Labs’ increased presence in the region underscores the growing demand for blockchain-based onchain finance solutions and tokenized assets, with Abu Dhabi, the ‘Capital of Capital’, providing the ideal environment for further expanding the global footprint of the Chainlink standard. We look forward to the innovative solutions that the Chainlink standard will enable in Abu Dhabi and beyond.”

A Saudi woman entrepreneur Ran Al Kharashi, has patented the Quintes Protocol a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol with its innovative no-depreciation cryptocurrency model.

The Quintes Protocol is protected by a newly-secured Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) PCT/IB2024/061188 from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This groundbreaking protocol offers a unique approach to perpetual asset growth, ensuring long-term value stability and positioning itself as a global disruptive force in the evolving cryptocurrency market.

Rand Al Kharashi aims to redefine the world of DeFi. By securing a WIPO PCT for the proprietary technology behind Quintes Protocol, she has reaffirmed her mission to upend the cryptocurrency market with the world’s first perpetually appreciating asset, which is expected to increase in price at an annual rate of 18-30%.

“This is more than a milestone for Quintes Protocol – it’s an affirmation that exceptional and continued value can be created in the crypto field,” said Al Kharashi. “Quintes is the world’s first crypto asset that is engineered for continued high price growth. Backed intensive research, verifications, and the knowledge of renowned token engineers and researchers from leading blockchain companies, Quintes has just one destination: to pioneer the future of DeFi with unmatched growth, blazing the way for an exciting new world of cryptocurrency value.”

The Quintes Protocol is poised to disrupt the market with its unprecedented cryptonomics. This protocol aims to outperform established asset classes, including S&P 500 equities, gold, high-yield fixed income, and many cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum and Bitcoin, unlocking massive market opportunities and setting new benchmarks for financial performance and growth.

Quintes introduces QNT, the first token designed to achieve a secure price appreciation of 18-30% per year through utilizing its unique over-collateralization strategy, novel cryptonomics mechanisms and AI-driven high-frequency trading to deliver unparalleled scalability and sustainability.

According to Al Kharashi: “We’ve seen the potential for cryptocurrencies to achieve great returns for investors, but that growth is fickle. Growth bubbles occur, burst suddenly and unexpectedly, and the value is often lost. It may be possible for an asset to rebuild to match or even exceed its previous high, but there’s always an element of risk. The value of existing crypto, and even more traditional investment assets, is never guaranteed. That is what inspired the creation of Quintes and the concept of perpetual growth, based on predictable collateral value appreciation.”

The decision to file for a WIPO PCT patent underscores Al Kharashi’s commitment to protecting Quintes’ pioneering engineering on a global scale. This strategic move ensures that Quintes’ innovative protocol is safeguarded as it seeks patent protection in numerous countries, providing a robust foundation for its international expansion, future success and eventual preparation to become open source.

The development and engineering of Quintes Protocol is grounded in rigorous research conducted by Kitabq Research Lab, which was founded by Al Kharashi. Over two years, Kitabq’s cryptonomics research has been instrumental in shaping Quintes’ architecture and mechanisms.

Quintes’ technical team is a powerhouse of talent, featuring elite token engineers and data scientists from industry giants like ConsenSys, Binance, Algorand, and Morgan Stanley. Collectively, this team has raised over $600 million in capital and achieved successful exits in both Web3 and Web2 domains.

Scheduled for an official launch in January 2025, the Quintes Protocol represents an exciting opportunity for investors and stakeholders eager to be part of the new future of DeFi. A recent simulation test revealed Quintes’ positive performance even in bearish market conditions, highlighting its resilience and potential. As Quintes gears up for its groundbreaking debut, the team is actively seeking investment to drive its vision forward.