Zodia Custody, backed by Standard Chartered Bank has shown interest in offering its services not only in the UAE but in Qatar as well.

Recently, Gerry Afentakis, Head of Europe & MENA Sales at Zodia Custody visited the Qatar Development Bank along with members from the Qatar Financial Authority.

Hani Khateeb, Fintech Specialist Advisor of Qatar Fintech Hub at the Qatar Development Bank noted on LinkedIn, “Today, we had the pleasure of hosting Zodia Custody and Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority at Qatar Development Bank offices. We were joined by Gerry Afentakis from Zodia, who shared their latest achievements, milestones, and provided valuable insights into their role in the institutional digital asset custodianship market globally.”

He added, “It was especially impressive to learn about their shareholder and list of banking customer in both the MENA region and internationally. During our discussions, we explored potential collaborations in the exciting world of digital assets here in Qatar aligning with existing frameworks and future plans for paving the way for this new technology to flourish within Qatar’s financial sector.”

The visit of Zodia Custody’s Head of Europe and MENA Sales executive, comes after Qatar launched its digital assets framework, and DLT framework. Qatar’s digital assets regulation allows for the tokenization of real-world asset, excluding cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

The Qatar Digital Assets Lab was also created to develop tokenization platforms for tangible and intangible assets including real estate assets, securities, Sukuk, bonds and others in the future utilizing DLT (distributed ledger technologies), blockchain, and smart contracts.

Moreover, the framework also allows for tokens and token custodians, exchanges, transfer providers and validators, as well as token issuers.

As per the framework, “Token custody services mean holding or controlling tokens on behalf of clients; or holding or controlling the means by which clients’ tokens may be recorded and transacted on token infrastructure. A company that holds or safeguards the private keys for its clients’ tokens is providing custody services in relation to those tokens. An entity licensed to provide token custody services may be referred to as a token custodian.”

This could be why Zodia Custody is now interested in visiting QFC after it started its journey in the UAE. Replying to Khateeb, Afentakis stated on LinkedIn, “Thank you, Qatar Development Bank, and your exceptional colleagues (Mayssa Mrabet & Kevin) for the wonderfully warm Qatari hospitality and for such an astute and fruitful discussion. So much to look forward to.”

Replying to Lara on the Block, Afentakis in a message noted, “We are very much exploring Qatar, and will be setting up in UAE in both VARA and ADGM in Q1 of 2025.”

In 2023, Standard Chartered’s backed digital asset platform, Zodia markets, received an In-Principal Approval (IPA) fulfilling the pre-requisites to receive a Financial Services Permission (FSP) for OTC broker-dealer in virtual assets by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Abu Dhabi’s international financial center.

Zodia Markets chose to expand into the UAE as the region establishes itself as a rapidly emerging hub for digital assets. The strategic expansion provides institutional investors from the Middle East and Africa with reliable access to this growing, alternative asset class, consolidating Zodia Markets’ position as an integral part of the global digital asset landscape.

In an article on Zodia Custody website they note that with all the growth being witnessed in UAE and GCC region in terms of blockchain and digital assets businesses, the banking sector has sometimes been tentative in embracing the crypto industry. The article states, “With crypto firms situated there reporting that they still struggle to access banking services. This hurdle is now starting to be removed as some players are beginning to offer digital asset-friendly services. Major financial institutions are also requesting proposals and seeking providers for virtual asset services.”

This is why a year ago, UAE based Standard Chartered 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. At the time Standard Chartered noted that its new services would be powered by its subsidiary Zodia Custody.

In 2024, Brevan Howard became the first client for Standard Chartered regulated crypto custody service out of DIFC. DIFC (Dubai International Financial center) regulator DFSA.

NAVER, South Kore’s largest internet company with investment in Blockchain, is to establish a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company (NHC), a state-owned company under the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. The JV will serve as NAVER’s business unit for the Saudi Arabia region, along with NAVER Arabia (tentative name) which will oversee the company’s business in the MENA region.

The JV will operate under NAVER Arabia (tentative name), with the operation and commercialization of the digital twin platform in Saudi Arabia as its core business along with NHC. The JV will also be TEAM NAVER’s first business entity for its technology platform business in the Middle East.

NHC, a key partner of TEAM NAVER in Saudi Arabia, is a state-owned company under the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Municipalities and Housing that is responsible for 70% of real estate transactions in the country. As part of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” initiative, the company is currently focused on digital transformation such as digital innovation in the real estate sector and smart city development.

Since its establishment in 2016, NHC has been in charge of over 380 projects for real estate development projects including public housing provision, and the value of its real estate portfolio is expected to exceed 60 billion USD (80 trillion KRW) as of the end of 2025. The company has also been selected as the largest real estate developer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by the Construction Week Middle East in 2024.

TEAM NAVER and NHC will operate and commercialize the digital twin platform in Saudi Arabia through the JV, while also developing other businesses such as a public monitoring platform for urban areas and a map-enabled super app for public administration.

“TEAM NAVER’s global competitiveness in technology and business has been recognized by various ministries and organizations in Saudi Arabia, and we are excited to further discover business opportunities with different partners in the region,” said Chae Seon-ju, President of ESG and External Affairs at NAVER.

In April 2024 two blockchain platforms, Klaytn backed by Kakao, and UAE based Finschia backed by Naver an affiliate UAE based LINE Tech Plus merged to create a new unified blockchain platform Kaia, which means “and” in Greek, with a market capitalization of $1 billion.

Kakao, the internet giant behind Korea’s most popular messaging app, operates Klaytn, the country’s largest native blockchain network with a market cap of $671 million. It targets enterprise users with a modular network architecture that enables them to build service chains atop its mainnet.

While Naver, South Korea’s leading search engine, is behind Finschia, a blockchain network developed by its Japanese subsidiary, Line. It operates one of Asia’s largest non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces.

In August 2024, Naver was set to launch its first digital asset wallet, Naver Pay Wallet, for the Korean market. It partnered with Chiliz, a blockchain provider for sports and entertainment, as the inaugural blockchain for the wallet.

UAE based Layer1 blockchain platform for tokenization, MANTRA has partnered with UAE based Pyse, a sustainability-driven RWA platform, to finance the deployment of electric motorcycles for logistics and delivery services across the Emirates. This collaboration will kick off with initial deliveries of the striking pink electric vehicles (EVs) in Dubai as Pyse aims to tokenize more than 10,000 electric motorcycles on the MANTRA Chain by the end of 2025.

Earlier this year, MANTRA selected Pyse as a key member of the MANTRA Incubator program as part of its commitment to fostering innovative solutions in the green technology sector.

“Dubai’s logistics and food delivery sector is on the brink of an electric revolution,” said Kaustubh Padakannaya, Co-founder of Pyse. “Our partnership with MANTRA allows us to tokenize the leasing of electric motorcycles, making them accessible to retail audiences. This initiative celebrates Dubai’s sustainability goals while providing affordable mobility for all the rider heroes.”

Pyse goes beyond traditional models, enabling individuals to offset their carbon footprint and earn returns by investing directly in green assets like electric mobility and renewable energy. The MANTRA pink bike was revealed in October during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.

MANTRA CEO & Co-Founder John Patrick Mullin commented, “As the demand for eco-friendly delivery solutions in the region rises, this partnership positions MANTRA Chain and Pyse at the forefront of bringing quality and purposeful RWAs onchain. The deployment of these eye-catching pink EV motorcycles marks a significant step towards achieving Dubai’s ambitious sustainability goals.”

The MANTRA Incubator Program launched in June 2024. Pyse participated in the inaugural cohort alongside two projects in real estate and finance. The incubated projects received support and mentorship to build robust decentralized applications on MANTRA’s infrastructure.

In March 2024, MANTRA Chain raised $11 million led by UAE based Shorooq Partners with investors including Three-point capital, Forte Securities, VirtuZone, Hex Trust and GameFi Ventures. The news which was published in Coindesk stated, that Mantra Chain was in the final stages of receiving licenses from Dubai’s crypto regulator, VARA.

Later in July 2024, UAE based MAG Group Holding a multinational consolidation of different companies and sectors, the group’s portfolio includes real estate, contracting & engineering, industrial & commercial trading, freight services, and hospitality announced it would tokenize $500 million worth of real estate assets with UAE based Mantra a Blockchain Layer 1 RWA ( Real world assets) tokenization platform.

Saudi based Blockchain Layer 1 platform Oumla has partnered with Avalanche Blockchain with the aim of creating Saudi Arabia’s first Layer One Blockchain fully hosted in KSA.


As per the X post, ” This collaboration will support startups and SMEs, driving technological innovation across Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.”

In the X post for Oumla they stated, ” By bringing a secure, locally-hosted blockchain platform closer to home, we’re paving the way for growth and innovation aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. This partnership is part of our larger mission to develop the products the region needs to thrive in Web3 and blockchain technology, preparing the MENA market for a seamless transition into the digital future.
We’re excited to bring this vision to life and drive the next wave of technological transformation!”

Oumla in Saudi, offers an intuitive infrastructure that caters to both businesses and government entities. The platform offers a suite of APIs and SDKs, enabling developers to build applications on top of any blockchain, including Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-based networks, without the need to master complex, low-level blockchain-specific protocols.

As per Oumla, its tools are designed to accelerate time to market, enhance development capabilities, and reduce security concerns, making it easier for developers to focus on innovation rather than the intricacies of blockchain technology.

Oumla recently launched a multichain platform, allowing developers to seamlessly integrate and operate across multiple blockchain infrastructures, further expanding the possibilities for innovative projects and solutions.

Recently Oumla received investment from Saudi based Adaverse, a venture capital fund and Web3 accelerator.

The Blockchain ecosystem is growing in Saudi Arabia. In 2024 Adaverse published its first Web3 ecosystem report for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showcasing growth, opportunities, as well as challenges. Since its inception, Adaverse has funded 54+ startups across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

According to the Adaverse report, Saudi Arabia is well positioned to witness growth in the Web3 ecosystem. One of the main reasons is that is it the largest market in GCC with a youthful and tech savvy population. Already 63% of its 36 million residents are under 30, and 99% of Saudi residents are connected to the internet.

In addition, the ambitious Vision 2030 initiative further strengthens this by fostering a robust tech and innovation ecosystem. Saudi Arabia has also seen growth in funding for startups and Web3 ventures.

In 2024, according to Digital Digest, MENA based startups secured $429 million across 163 deals, with Saudi startups receiving 515 of the funding across 36.2% of the deals.

UAE ADGM regulatory authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) has published a consultation paper No.10 to propose amendments on various regulations including those related to virtual assets. The amendments discuss, Digital security tokens, commodity tokens, stablecoins, and utility tokens.

As per the announcement, The proposed miscellaneous amendments result from the FSRA’s desire to simplify, clarify and correct certain requirements where appropriate and necessary, but are also in response to the FSRA’s experience of operating such legislation in practice.

The consultation period will close on 10 December 2024.

Digital Securities

In terms of virtual assets under the title “Regulation of Digital security offerings, virtual assets under the FSMR (ICO Guidance) and its Guidance on Regulation of Digital Securities activity in ADGM, it deals with the FSRA’s treatment of virtual assets and the financial activities that can be conducted in relation to them within ADGM.

The FSRA has defined Virtual Assets in the FSMR, as Digital Securities, which means digital or virtual tokens that have features and characteristics of a Security under the FSMR (such as Shares, Debentures and Units in a Collective Investment Fund).

As such all financial services activities in relation to Digital Securities, such as operating primary / secondary markets, dealing / trading / managing investments in or advising on Digital Securities, are subject to the relevant regulatory requirements under the FSMR.

Virtual assets as Commodities

In addition, market intermediaries and market operators dealing or managing investments in Digital Securities need to be licensed / approved by FSRA as FSP holders (including as Multilateral Trading Facilities), Recognised Investment Exchanges or Recognised Clearing Houses, as applicable “Virtual Assets” such as non-fiat virtual currencies, crypto ‘exchange tokens.

The Guidance also discusses virtual assets treated as commodities where only activities in Accepted Virtual Assets will be permitted.

In terms of capital formation activities, they are not within the virtual asset framework offered by FSRA in ADGM. While Derivatives and Collective Investment Funds of Virtual Assets, Digital Securities and Utility Tokens regulated as Specified Investments under the FSMR will need to be licensed by FSRA as FSP holders.

Utility Tokens

When it comes to Utility Tokens, which means tokens that can be redeemed for access to a specific product or service and are not for investment, they are also not regulated.

Stablecoins

Fiat tokens or stablecoins, which are fully backed by underlying fiat currencies which are used as a payments instrument for the purposes of money transmission will be licensed and regulated by the FSRA as providing money services.

The Global Blockchain Show has launched its second edition, taking place on December 12 and 13, 2024 at the Grand Hyatt Exhibition Centre, Dubai. Organized by web3 and artificial intelligence consulting giant VAP Group, the two-day show will provide an opportunity to network with the top 1% of the web3 community by bringing together founders, solution providers, experts and enthusiasts from around the world under one roof. 

“The Global Blockchain Show is more than just a one-time event. It is designed to be the ultimate blockchain mixer where attendees will go on a continuous journey through the dynamic world of blockchain technology and unwind with the ‘who’s who’ of the industry,” said Vishal Parmar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VAP Group.

Speakers such as:

  • Yat Siu – Co-Founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands
  • Dr. Marwan Alzarouni – CEO/CEO AI, Dubai Blockchain Center/Dubai Economy & Tourism
  • H.E. Justin Sun – Founder/Global Advisory Board, TRON/HTX Global Advisory Board
  • Rachel Conlan – Global Chief Marketing Officer, Binance 
  • Mr. Ahmed Bin Sulayem – Executive Chairman and CEO, DMCC
  • Jason Allegrante – Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Fireblocks
  • Pierre Samaties – Chief Business Officer, DFINITY
  • Marcello Mari – Founder & Chief Executive Officer, SingularityDAO
  • David Palmer – Chief Product Officer, Co-founder, Vodafone
  • Alicia Kao – Managing Director, KuCoin

… and many more will deliver groundbreaking insights and announcements at the highest level. 

Themes including digital currency, blockchain regulations and Web3 gaming will deep-dive into real-life applications, while workshops will provide practical ‘how-to’ frameworks, models, implementation guidance, and success metrics. 

The Global Blockchain Show is the only event that gives you a 360-degree roadmap of how individuals can leverage blockchain technology effectively. And it does not stop there. Monthly virtual roundtable conferences, quarterly reports, private project meetings and much more are set to take place all year round to ensure that the story of blockchain’s impact, innovation and integration is told in its entirety. 

Additionally, the Global Blockchain Show is led by a multidisciplinary advisory board, composed of industry leaders and experts such as Ida Mok, Chief Strategy Officer, W3GG, President, Women in Blockchain Asia; Christian Gleich, International Ambassador, European Blockchain Association; Nena Dokuzov, Coordinator, Strategy of Digital Transformation of Economy, Ministry of the Economy, Tourism, and Sport, Slovenia, among others. The board will regularly meet to discuss key industry developments through the year as well as be the committee steering the discussions that happen live on stage. 

“With a community of over 110,000, the Ultimate Blockchain Season Finale is set to open up opportunities to network with some of the most influential voices in the industry, all gathered together in a common area,” said Vishal Parmar.

So what are you waiting for? Head to: https://www.globalblockchainshow.com/tickets/ and grab your tickets to attend the grand finale of events this year. 

Tether, issuer of stablecoin USDT, through its Investment division has financed a physical crude oil transaction, in the Middle East, between a publicly traded super-major oil company and a top-tier commodity trader worth $45 million. The transaction which was completed in in October 2024, facilitated the loading and transporting of 670,000 barrels of Middle Eastern crude oil. This was Tether Investments’ first crude oil transaction in the region.

Launched earlier this year, Tether’s Trade Finance business has quickly scaled to support the $10 trillion trade finance industry by providing accessible capital solutions that streamline and modernize global trade flows. This new venture, part of Tether Investments, is separated from Tether’s Stablecoin reserves and leverages the company’s high profitability as demonstrated in its recently published quarterly attestation for Q3/2024. Tether aims to help drive positive change within the trade finance industry by providing flexible capital solutions to a wide range of companies and driving efficiency in trade flows through its stablecoin, USD₮.

“Tether Investments’ financing of this significant crude oil transaction underscores our commitment to reshaping the trade finance landscape,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “With USD₮, we’re bringing efficiency and speed to markets that have historically relied on slower, more costly payment structures. This transaction marks the beginning, as we look to support a broader range of commodities and industries, fostering greater inclusivity and innovation in global finance.”

Tether is driving the use of USD₮ in trade finance transactions, which lowers costs and reduces payment times – a distinct benefit over traditional lending – while leveraging top-tier compliance and AML standards, boosted by the transparency of blockchain networks.

Tether has been steadily growing its presence in the Middle East announcing that it will be launching the AED stablecoin in UAE. 2024 is proving to be a landmark year for stablecoins in the UAE. Through the first half of the year, the value of stablecoins received by services, particularly on centralised and decentralised exchanges (CEX and DEX) in the country totalled over $9.8billion, a 55 per cent spike over the $6.3billion received over H1 2023.

Consequently, stablecoins now account for the largest share of crypto activity in the UAE (51 per cent), which stands significantly higher than both Bitcoin (19 per cent) and Ether (9 per cent), which are typically considered to be the most recognized and popular cryptocurrencies.

UAE Commercial Bank International (CBI), a leading UAE bank, has partnered with Zumo, an award-winning digital-assets-as-a-service platform registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to enable both parties to explore the tracking of digital asset sustainability.

As per the press release this marks a significant step in CBI’s commitment to furthering innovation and offering cutting-edge digital solutions to its clients.

The UAE’s digital assets market is projected to generate $453.20 million in revenue by 2024, reaching an estimated $616.80 million by 2028.

The Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) recently launched a dedicated accounts for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to manage client money and regulatory prudential requirements, in compliance with the latest regulations issued by the Central Bank of UAE and the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The first VASP to be onboarded is Laser Digital a crypto broker and investment service provider, a subsidiary of Japanese Nomura.

Giovanni Everduin, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer of Commercial Bank International, said, “Our partnership with Zumo marks a significant milestone in CBI’s ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability. Aligned with our vision of partnership driven innovation, we look forward to collaborating with Zumo to become one of the first banks in the world to provide carbon footprint insights with carbon offsetting for digital assets. This revolutionary capability will ensure that, as digital assets become further embedded within the financial ecosystem, customers and institutions have the required tools and data to ensure their sustainability goals are tracked and achieved.”

Clark Povey, Chief Operating Officer of Zumo, added, “We’re delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Commercial Bank International, one of the UAE’s most innovative banks, headquartered in Dubai. Our collaboration with CBI will see Zumo’s pioneering digital assets and blockchain technology complement CBI’s financial expertise and innovative approach to drive sustainability. Zumo solves the biggest challenges in digital assets for financial institutions by providing business-critical technologies to navigate the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape, and with Zumo’s technology and leadership in sustainability of digital assets, the exciting journey ahead is just beginning.”

Zumo provides the critical infrastructure required by financial institutions to implement sustainable digital asset solutions.

As an early signatory of the Crypto Climate Accord, a signatory of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration and a key contributor to industry guidelines for the decarbonization of digital assets, Zumo has firmly established itself as a leader in advancing sustainability within the digital asset sector. By aligning Zumo’s technology and expertise with CBI’s innovative approach to banking services, this partnership is poised to accelerate the adoption of digital assets within the UAE’s banking ecosystem.

Prior to this, Commercial Bank International and Fuze, MENA’s digital asset infrastructure provider, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that would allow both parties to jointly explore digital assets use cases under the comprehensive regulatory frameworks of the UAE. The agreement between CBI and Fuze provided the foundations for innovative new use cases that leverage the potential of blockchain and digital assets, including investments and payments.

Crypto.com and Bahrain based BENEFIT, a FinTech and electronic financial transactions services have 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.

The companies signed an MOU at the Fintech Forward event in Bahrain on October 3, 2024.

“BENEFIT’s innovative work to develop the electronic payments space in Bahrain is impressive and we’re excited at the prospect of partnering with a company that is forward-thinking and eager to support the growth of the digital assets industry,” said Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com. “Bahrain has created an innovation friendly environment and we’re looking forward to expanding our services here.”

“We are pleased to explore this collaboration with Crypto.com as it aligns with our mission to continuously drive innovation in Bahrain’s financial services sector,” said Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of BENEFIT. “By leveraging our expertise in electronic financial transactions and Crypto.com’s cutting-edge capabilities in the realm of cryptocurrency, we are confident this partnership can bring added value to Bahrain’s evolving fintech landscape and support the growth of digital assets in the Kingdom.”

This comes after Crypto.com Crypto.com, the 13th largest global crypto exchange according to CoinMarketCap, 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.

CyBirb, aWeb3 security company, has launched its operations in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital after receiving its license.

As per the press release, the move aims to strengthen capabilities in blockchain cybersecurity and compliance across the region. CyBirb’s expansion marks a significant milestone in enhancing blockchain security and fostering innovation in the UAE and beyond. The decision to launch operations within ADGM was driven by the financial centre’s reputation for innovation and robust regulatory standards. CyBirb is set to offer a suite of advanced security solutions, including Smart contract audits, Decentralized application (DApp) security, Wallet screening and transaction monitoring and AI-powered real-time threat detection.

Manan Shah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CyBirb, stated: “Our establishment in ADGM is a game-changer for blockchain security in the region. We’re bringing world-class cybersecurity solutions to a hub of innovation and regulatory excellence. We are confident that our presence in ADGM’s ecosystem will enable us to set new global benchmarks in Web3 security and compliance.”

The company plans to collaborate with key stakeholders in ADGM, including financial institutions, technology firms, and academic institutions, to continuously enhance its services and contribute to strengthening the overall blockchain ecosystem. Commenting on these collaborations Manan Shah added, “These partnerships are integral to our mission of creating a secure and thriving blockchain ecosystem. By collaborating with leaders across various sectors, we’re not just offering security solutions – we’re building a foundation for the future of Web3 in the MENA region.”