Dubai’s Department of Economy teams up with VARA to integrate virtual asset service offering to UAE market

Dubai’s Department of Economy teams up with VARA to integrate virtual asset service offering to UAE market

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Virtual Assets regulatory Authority have signed an MOU to unify VASP ( virtual asset service provider) offering in the city.

The two entities will collaborate to offer a synchronised VA market assurance across the Emirate of Dubai – spanning [Public/Marketplace] Customer Care + Complaints; [Business] On-Site Inspection + Enforcement; [Business] VASP Registration + Licensing; [G2G + G2B + G2C] Education-Training-Knowledge Sharing.

As per the MOU, both parties agree to pool their complementary capabilities to lay robust foundations that will aid Dubai’s GDP contribution to the expanding global New Economy portfolio, reinforcing the city’s reputation as an attractive, innovative, and secure global hub for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), operators, and customers.

The MoU’s scope further strengthens VARA’s commitment to achieving full transparency and market conduct adherence across VASPs licensed to operate in Dubai, so that the reputation and credibility of the UAE as the preferred hub for the global sector are automatically established.

VASPs will benefit from seamless workflow processes between both parties with DET adding VARA activities to its system for virtual assets licence issuance. DET will undertake robust inspections and support VARA with in-situ enforcements including deploying penalties such as suspensions or revocations in cases of proven negligence or non-compliance with VARA rules, in addition to Business as Usual application renewals for VASPs that meet VARA’s requirements in full. VARA will be included on DET’s E-Permit system, which will enable one-touch point approvals on VA events and both parties will actively collaborate on awareness campaigns for VARA product and licensing updates, as well as data sharing protocols and legacy onboarding.

In keeping with Dubai Government’s commitment to improving business and market service delivery, this partnership between VARA and DET will also seek to leverage the Dubai Corporation for Consumers Protections & Fair Trade (DCCPFT) department at DET by upgrading it with specialist VA know-how from VARA, thereby optimising government resources and provide a transparent, seamless customer experience.

Both parties will also collaborate on marketing campaigns designed to raise general awareness towards consumer protection and developments in the virtual assets sector including communicating consumer protection information and advice. DET, in co-ordination with VARA, will also publish relevant notices and warnings, including penalty notices and consumer protection advisories, on its website and the DCCPFT website.

Bankrupt FTX crypto exchange requests to remove FTX Dubai from Chapter 11 proceedings

Bankrupt FTX crypto exchange requests to remove FTX Dubai from Chapter 11 proceedings

FTX in the USA, sent a motion dismissing Chapter 11 case for its Dubai’s operation regulated under Dubai’s virtual asset regulatory authority (VARA) in UAE. 

FTX VARA holds $4 million as security for the license of the total of $.45 million held by FTX Dubai in several accounts. As per Cointelegraph article, on July 25, VARA confirmed to FTX Dubai management that such restricted cash would be released in the context of the liquidation of FTX Dubai, according to United Arab Emirates law:

As stated in the motion, FTX Dubai established on February 11, 2022 under the laws of the United Arab Emirates to operate a crypto exchange. FTX Dubai is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Debtor FTX Europe AG. Then on July 12, 2022, FTX Dubai was granted a virtual asset service provider license (the “License”) from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (“VARA”). Notwithstanding the grant of the License, FTX Dubai did not offer any crypto-related services to investors in the United Arab Emirates or operate a crypto exchange prior to the Petition Date. On November 10, 2022, VARA suspended the License and, on July 12, 2023, the License expired.”

FTX claims that given the absence of any historical business or resources to commence any business in the future, FTX Dubai has no reasonable likelihood of rehabilitating its operations. Additionally, FTX Dubai is balance sheet solvent. Therefore, the Debtors believe that a solvent voluntary liquidation procedure in accordance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates would allow a timely distribution of the positive cash balance after payment of all outstanding liabilities and liquidation of all assets. To the extent that any creditors filed claims against FTX Dubai in the Chapter 11 Cases, the dismissal of the Chapter 11 Case of FTX Dubai will not impact such claims and will not prejudice any creditor’s ability to pursue such claims directly against FTX Dubai in its local liquidation proceeding.

FTX adds, “  Accordingly, the Debtors believe it is in the best interests of the Debtors and their stakeholders to dismiss the Chapter 11 Case of FTX Dubai at this time.

Swiss crypto service provider Laser Digital awarded full crypto license by Dubai’s virtual asset regulator

Swiss crypto service provider Laser Digital awarded full crypto license by Dubai’s virtual asset regulator

Dubai’s virtual asset regulatory authority, VARA has granted Laser Digital Middle East FZE, the crypto arm of Japanese Nomura Holdings, a full crypto license that will allow it to offer virtual asset broker dealer and investment management services in the UAE.

Laser Digital announced that  Laser plans to launch over-the-counter trading services and digital-asset investment products for institutional investors in coming months.

According to VARA website, Laser Digital has been awarded This is the full VARA licence, issued to VASPs which satisfies all of the requirements as specified under the Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023. It allows a VASP to offer approved Virtual Asset services to retail customers as well as institutional customers and Qualified Investors.

Laser Digital, which is headquartered in Switzerland with officers in Dubai and London, said in a statement it had received the licence from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, allowing it to offer crypto-related broker-dealer, management and investment services.

“VARA’s thorough and consultative process provides institutional investors with the assurance they require to engage in this asset class. With the license now in place, we are looking forward to Laser’s growth over the coming years” said Jez Mohideen,  Co-Head of Global Markets EMEA. Laser Digital

Founded last year by Nomura, Laser Digital was the brainchild of Steven Ashley, the former head of Nomura’s wholesale division, and Jez Mohideen, Nomura’s former Chief Digital Officer.

Dubai’s WOW Blockchain Summit launches $1 million startup competition at its UAE October 2023 event

Dubai’s WOW Blockchain Summit launches $1 million startup competition at its UAE October 2023 event

WOW Summit has announced the launched of its WEB3 Summit Dubai, widely hailed as the WOW SUMMIT Dubai to be held on October 8th and 9th 2023. 

Following its successful events in Lisbon and Hong Kong, WOW Summit Dubai 2023 emerges to unite distinguished industry titans, esteemed government officials, visionary funds, enterprising venture capitalists, boundary-pushing NFT and digital artists, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and influential multinational corporations.  The event will unfold at the  Atlantis the Royal, The Palm—a sanctuary of innovation where dreams transform into reality.

The Summit aims to drive the innovative trajectory of Web3, covering cutting-edge trends and innovations in technology. Through carefully selected programs, attendees will explore topics including the Web2 – Web3 transition, CBDC, regulations, asset tokenization, and the social impact and applications of blockchain and DLT technologies for real-life applications. 

Blockchain visionaries and digital assets leaders, alongside respectful UAE government officials will grace the conference stage, including Eowyn Chen, CEO, Trust Wallet; Joy John, Director, Cloud Native and Innovation, EMEA, Oracle; Talal Tabbaa, CEO CoinMena; Prof. Hoda Alkhzaimi, Director for EMARATSEC & Co-chair of the WEF Global Future Council; Ben Caselin, MaskEx SVP & CSO; Scott Tiel, TOKO Founder & CEO of TOKO by DLA Piper; Sam Katiela, Founder & CEO of Mamemo and Chairman of Crypto Valley Partners.

The summit will cover a wide range of topics and activities, providing valuable insights into the main NFT use cases, the latest updates on DEFi, DAOs, and dApps, digital asset management companies, global digital assists regulations, and more. Additionally, startup competitions will be held, offering valuable prizes to the winners and a chance to win up to USD 1,000,000 with the MMPro Expert program.

Ivan V. Ivanov, global CEO of WOW Summit, said: “Our mission is to organize an exclusive event unlike any other in the landscape of blockchain, web3, and crypto events. Our vision is to create an unparalleled experience, setting us apart from others in the region. We are fully committed to delivering top-notch content, showcasing world-renowned speakers, and forging strategic partnerships that define the cutting edge. To ensure the utmost value for our attendees, we meticulously verify all participants, guaranteeing the finest networking opportunities and the best event experience possible.”

 Join us now as we redefine the boundaries of what is possible and chart a course towards unprecedented success.

Blockchain and AI enabled WorldCoin World ID orb available in UAE at Crypto Oasis Centre

Blockchain and AI enabled WorldCoin World ID orb available in UAE at Crypto Oasis Centre

As per a recent announcement, WorldCoin, blockchain and AI based digital identity protocol World ID has launched one of its orbs in Dubai UAE, at Crypto Oasis Centre.

World ID according to WorldCoin ia a more human internet with global proof‑of‑personhood. Privacy‑First. Self‑custodial. Decentralized.

Worldcoin is dramatically increasing access to World ID—the digital identity protocol powered by the Worldcoin ecosystem. The project will increase the number of available Orbs to 1.5K throughout the summer and fall in more than 35 cities around the world. One of those cities listed is Dubai UAE.

The World ID Orb will be located at Crypto Oasis Innovation Hub, Gate C, Floor 1, Office 176, DIFC

Over the last six months of its beta phase, the Worldcoin project has verified the uniqueness and humanness of more than 40,000 individuals per week. The availability of 1.5K Orbs will more than 5x sign up capacity globally and enable millions of additional people to join the 2 million who have already signed up for World ID.

In countries like Spain, where more than 150K people have already verified their World ID, the project will scale its existing operations up to 3x in the coming months. In other countries such as France and Brazil, for a limited time pop-ups will allow people to locate a nearby Orb and sign up for World ID.

To review, the Orb, which was originally developed by Tools for Humanity (TFH), is the first custom biometric imaging device built for the Worldcoin project to verify humanness and uniqueness in a secure and privacy-preserving way. Anyone with a World ID-compatible wallet, such as TFH’s World App, can sign up for World ID at an Orb by visiting a Worldcoin Operator location or community specialist to access an Orb.

Currently and in the future orbs will be available in Dubai, Kampala, Nairobi, in the MENA region. As for the Americas, it will be available in Bariloche, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Los Angeles, Mar del Plata, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, San Francisco, and São Paulo

In Asia the orb is and will be available in Bangalore, Delhi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo. While in Europe it will be available in Barcelona, Berlin, Bilbao, Lisbon, London,Madrid, Munich, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Porto, Sevilla, Valencia,  and Warsaw

On July 24, the OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the launch of the Worldcoin protocol and the WLD token after years in development.

Altman claims that Worldcoin could eventually pave the way for AI-funded universal basic income — all while “preserving privacy.”

Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, and LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman, the startup has already raised close to $250 million as it begins to roll out its new global initiative. Prior to Monday’s debut, the company has already experienced a significant wave of interest, with over two million users participating in its beta version.

Bitget crypto exchange to hire 60 staff for its regional Middle East headquarters eyeing UAE and Bahrain

Bitget crypto exchange to hire 60 staff for its regional Middle East headquarters eyeing UAE and Bahrain

Bitget, crypto derivatives exchange has expanded into the Middle East with plans to hire 60 new staff for its regional headquarters. Bitget is currently serving over 8 million users in more than 100 countries and regions, the exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter by providing a secure, one-stop trading solution

Bitget is preparing to launch either in  Bahrain and or the UAE, including such as the crypto-friendly emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah. The expansion foresees the setting up regional headquarter, as well as the recruitment of new team members who will be assigned various mid-office and back-office functions.

Recent statistical data on MENA region crypto adoption indicates that it is home to the fastest-growing cryptocurrency industry, taking up a 9.2% share of global transactions in the period from 2021 to 2022. The UAE alone experienced 400% growth in the number of registered crypto businesses between 2020 and 2022, leading to a surge in global digital asset trading, accounting for 10% of global volume. In addition, the region saw a 300% increase in blockchain-related educational programs and accounts for as much as 8% of all mining hash rates.

“We hope to scale our Middle East team rapidly to support business growth, with between 30 to 60 hires over the next 2 years or more across the Middle East region. New team members will include various mid-office and back-office functions. We may consider selecting Dubai as an operational hub for the Middle East market. This move is not just about business, it is about our core values, which rest on advancing blockchain and crypto adoption worldwide,” as Gracy Chen, Managing Director of Bitget, commented on the announcement.

Bitget has already begun exploring license applications in order to operate in target Middle East markets.

Bitget has been scaling its operational reach globally in recent months, including the registration as VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) in Poland and similar crypto registration in Lithuania. The new expansion plan in the Middle East region comes on the heels of Bitget’s launch in Turkey earlier this year, which now boasts a full localization including its Turkish website, Bitget TR, to provide localized services for users in Turkey.

Many other crypto exchanges have been seeking licensing in the region, including OKx, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Binance and local exchanges such as BitOasis and CoinMENA. 

UAE Crypto Oasis ventures to support Dubai’s DIFC innovation hub and startups

UAE Crypto Oasis ventures to support Dubai’s DIFC innovation hub and startups

UAE based Crypto Oasis Ventures has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC),  to support the DIFC Innovation Hub with subject matter expertise for their ongoing and upcoming start-up accelerator programmes.

This coincides with Crypto Oasis Ventures official opening of its second office in the DIFC Innovation Hub for its Venture Studio.

“We are thrilled to partner with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a renowned financial hub known for its regulatory excellence and commitment to fostering innovation,” said Faisal Zaidi, Co-Founder and CMO of Crypto Oasis Ventures. “By establishing our office within the DIFC Innovation Hub, we aim to leverage The Centre’s vibrant ecosystem, collaborate with like-minded organisations, and explore new opportunities for growth.”

DIFC is a leading global international financial centre that plays a pivotal role in driving economic diversification and innovation in the region. As a strategic partner, DIFC will provide the Crypto Oasis Ventures ecosystem with access to a network of global investors, industry experts, and regulatory resources. This collaboration will facilitate the development of cutting-edge blockchain solutions, positioning Crypto Oasis Ventures at the forefront of the digital transformation in the financial sector.

Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Innovation Hub commented: “The DIFC Innovation Hub has a long history of partnering with leading and visionary institutions to enable business growth for our start-up ecosystem. This partnership will bring immense value to start-ups participating in our various accelerator programmes this year who will be able to leverage on Crypto Oasis’s expertise to amplify their existing business models.” 

“We are pleased to see Crypto Oasis expand their presence here in Dubai at the DIFC Innovation hub as they continue to innovate and drive growth in collaboration with our vibrant community of tech and innovation disruptors”, he added.

Crypto Oasis Ventures has spearheaded several successful ventures, including Crypto Oasis Labs, Crypto Oasis Sentio, arte, Crypto Oasis Games Guild, Inacta Communications, and The Green Block. These ventures showcase the company’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development within the Web3 space.

UAE top 100 tech investors invested only 4.6% of capital on Blockchain startups

UAE top 100 tech investors invested only 4.6% of capital on Blockchain startups

Deep Knowledge Group, pioneers of big data analytics system and dashboard solutions have published a report on the top 100 tech investors in the UAE of which 4.6% of their investments are in blockchain technology while 2.9% are in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.

The report makes several findings which include that 50% of the top 100 tech investors are venture capital entities with some of the well known blockchain investors including Crypto Oasis, Shurooq Partners, Seed Group, DisruptAD, Ghad Capital Parners, Mubadala and Ceras Ventures.

More than 50% of the top Tech investors are based out of Dubai UAE with 29% of their investments going to the Middle East startups, 17% going to GCC based entities and 18% in Africa.

74% of the top 100 tech investors have invested less than $10 million per deal, while only 11% have invested over $50 million.

In the last 12 months, Kube VC was the most active in terms of investments which totaled 48, followed closely by Maven Capital with 47 investments, and UAE Ghaf Capital making 20 investments.

The data from the report was gathered from all types of funding rounds, non-equity assistance, investors performance and characteristics were collected and analyzed according to various parameters set forth in Deep Knowledge Group evaluation criteria methodology.

The top 100 Tech investors in UAE have been selected based primarily upon the following criteria, ● number of investments made in DeepTech Companies;  potential for equity and non-equity financing (lead investors in seed/venture rounds); Investors overall background, intangible assets and philosophy;  investor investment activity;  % of successful investments; and  Investment impact on the company.

Within the framework of the given research, data related to over 3,000 investment deals, concluded by top 100 UAE tech investors, were collected. The share of deals concluded in 2022 constituted circa 20% of the total number of investment deals.

Data related to 2,600 portfolio companies, 77% of which are among active portfolio companies, has been gather and evaluated according to the ranking framework as well.

Prior to this report, LaraontheBlock issued a survey in early January 2023 entitled “MENA Investor Survey 2022-2023 for crypto Blockchain sector” found that 50% of those surveyed stated they will be allocating more funds to blockchain and crypto projects and entities in 2023. 19% of those surveyed stated in 2022 they had invested more than 50% of allocated capital and funds into crypto and Blockchain projects.

In June 2023 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and MENA based Investcorp, a global alternative investment firm has led a $15 million investment round for BitMe a Spanish crypto exchange. Included in the list of investors was Telefonica Ventures, Stratminds VC, Cardano, and YGG Fund.While just this week, UAE based Global Millennial Capital Ltd (“Global”), an emerging technology and digital assets investment manager, and venture capital firm launched its Global Millennial Web3 Investment Program, out of UAE which aims to accelerate emerging companies to their full potential in the realm of Web3, DeFi, and Blockchain.

The Mining Future, crypto mining hosting provider sets up headquarters in UAE

The Mining Future, crypto mining hosting provider sets up headquarters in UAE

In a recent press release, The Mining Future, a Bitcoin and crypto mining hosting services, has set up its headquarters in the UAE. The reason for this is the regulatory challenges being faced in China, USA, and EU as well as the rising costs. The company is also opening a datacentre in Kuwait.

As per the release, The Mining Future has strategically established its headquarters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to capitalize on the country’s ambitious vision to become a global leader in the crypto industry. The UAE’s commitment to fostering crypto-friendly regulations, inviting startups and miners within its jurisdiction, and making significant investments to secure its position as a hub for crypto companies have been instrumental in The Mining Future’s decision to choose the UAE as its base.

“We believe that the UAE’s proactive approach to regulation and its commitment to supporting the growth of the crypto industry aligns perfectly with our vision for The Mining Future,” said a spokesperson of The Mining Future. “By operating from the UAE, we can offer our clients a secure and reliable hosting environment while tapping into the country’s thriving crypto ecosystem.”

In addition to their presence in the UAE, The Mining Future is expanding its operations by opening two new state-of-the-art data centers in the Dominican Republic and in Kuwait. This move reflects the company’s commitment to securing clean energy sources and providing its clients with significantly lower rates than the market average.

The company accepts a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of just one miner, compared to the industry-standard MOQ of >10 miners allowing more individuals to participate in the Bitcoin mining network and contribute to its decentralization.

According to the data provided by the Hashrate Index, bitcoin miners in the UAE should produce approximately 13 EH/s, which is equivalent to 3.7% of the total Bitcoin hash rate at an assumed average energy efficiency of 30 J/TH. This comes as the UAE becomes an attractive hub for crypto mining. 

Marathon Digital Holdings confirmed earlier in 2023 that the company along with Abu Dhabi based Zero Two (Registered name FS Innovation), an emerging blockchain and digital assets infrastructure development company, will be launching the two digital asset mining sites with a combined capacity of 250 Megawatts in the sustainability hub of Abu Dhabi Masdar City and the port zone of Mina Zayed by the end of 2023.

UAE Crypto exchange Bitoasis clarifies that VARA’s market notification doesn’t impact their services

UAE Crypto exchange Bitoasis clarifies that VARA’s market notification doesn’t impact their services

A day after Dubai’s virtual asset regulatory authority issued a market notificiation stating that it had taken enforcement actions against BitOasis and advised investors and consumers that BitOasis’s MVP operational license is under review for not meeting mandated conditions, BitOasis replies back that this does not effect the services being offered to existing customers. 

BitOasis was supposed to satisfy certain requirements within 30-60 days of receiving their MVP operational license prior to being permitted to undertake any VARA regulated market activity. 

As such VARA is  exercising its authority to supervise and monitor compliance, assure fulfilment of prescribed conditions, impose remedial measures, and take necessary enforcement actions, including but not limited to holding BitOasis’ Licence status as non-operational.

In response to this BitOasis replied, “ BitOasis  ongoing work to fulfill select conditions associated with its Operational MVP License with respect to serving Institutional and Qualified Retail Investors. BitOasis is working closely with VARA on fulfilling the remaining conditions and is committed to providing a safe and secure service to its users.” 

BitOasis notes that the notification issued by Dubai’s VARA only covers institutional and qualified investors. BitOasis confirmed that it had not began offering thse services to these segments as they needed to fullfill all VARA mandated conditions under its Operational MVP license. 

As such according to the clarificiaiton by BitOasis, “This does not impact our ability to continue to provide broker dealer services to our existing retail users, although we undertake to not onboard any new clients until we have fully complied with VARA requirements.” 

BitOasis added that they are committed to remediate all outstanding post licensing conditions of their Operational MVP license as committed to the regulator, as well as working towards Full Market Product (FMP) licensing.  The clarification adds, “ We remain committed to securing a broker-dealer license, and operating a compliant, regulated platform in and from Dubai under VARA’s supervision. Transparency has always been a key value of our business – we will continue to update our community as we address these requirements prior to applying for an FMP license.”