CoinMENA the first and only Crypto exchange in MENA to list Ripple stablecoin

CoinMENA the first and only Crypto exchange in MENA to list Ripple stablecoin

CoinMENA, a regulated crypto broker with licenses in the UAE and Bahrain, is one of the selected crypto exchanges globally to be listing Ripple’s new RLUSD stablecoin on its platform. CoinMENA is the only crypto broker to be chosen by Ripple to list its stablecoin in the MENA region.

Ripple which today launches its Ripple USD (RLUSD) on global exchanges has chosen CoinMENA, Uphold, MoonPay, Archax, Bitso, Bullish, Bitstamp, with Mercado Bitcoin, Reserve, Zero Hash and others expected in the coming weeks.

CoinMENA Founders, Dina Sam’an and Talal Tabbaa commented, “We are proud to be the first and only platform in MENA to list RLUSD, the latest stablecoin in the market. Demand for stablecoins is exploding in the region, driven by diverse and growing use cases, we are seeing from our user base. Stablecoins are by far the most popular use case in the crypto today, and this listing reflects our commitment to providing the latest crypto financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of our users.”

Each RLUSD token is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government bonds, and cash equivalents—designed to ensure its stability, reliability, and liquidity. To maintain the highest standards of transparency, Ripple will publish monthly, third-party attestations of RLUSD’s reserve assets, conducted by an independent auditing firm.

“Early on, Ripple made a deliberate choice to launch our stablecoin under the NYDFS limited purpose trust company charter, widely regarded as the premier regulatory standard worldwide,” said Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO. “As the U.S. moves toward clearer regulations, we expect to see greater adoption of stablecoins like RLUSD, which offer real utility and are backed by years of trust and expertise in the industry.”

Key RLUSD partners include leading global exchanges, market makers, and payment providers, which will drive adoption and usage across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, UK, and Middle East regions.

RLUSD will be utilized for financial use cases and allows institutions to, facilitate instant settlement of cross-border payments, access liquidity for remittance and treasury operations, seamlessly integrate with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, and a reliably bridge between traditional fiat currencies and the crypto ecosystem, ensuring a seamless and efficient transition when entering (on-ramping) or exiting (off-ramping) the crypto space.

It will also be used to provide collateralization for trading tokenized real-world assets such as commodities, securities, and treasuries onchain.

Early next year, Ripple Payments will use RLUSD to facilitate global payments on behalf of its enterprise customers. Ripple Payments has served $70 billion in payments volume and counting, and has near-global coverage with 90+ payout markets, which represent more than 90% coverage of the daily FX market.

 RLUSD is available on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains, offering flexibility and scalability for a broad range of financial use cases.

“Stablecoins could become the backbone of private payments by offering a secure, scalable, and efficient alternative to traditional systems. With its focus on compliance and reliability, RLUSD aims to establish new standards for trust and to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of payments. Joining the Advisory Board provides me an opportunity to counsel RLUSD as it embarks on its journey in the rapidly evolving financial landscape,” said Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

“I am excited to join Ripple’s advisory board at such a pivotal moment for digital finance,” said Kenneth Montgomery, former First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. “Stablecoins are rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of the payments landscape, delivering the speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness that traditional systems often struggle to achieve. I look forward to collaborating with the Ripple team to support the global growth and adoption of RLUSD, unlocking new opportunities for financial inclusion and modernizing the future of payments.”

Hex Trust crypto platform launches fiat on and off ramping services in UAE

Hex Trust crypto platform launches fiat on and off ramping services in UAE

Hex Trust, a regulated provider of virtual assets custody, staking and market services has officially opened HT Markets MENA offering fiat on/off-ramp services in Dubai UAE through its secure, institutional-grade platform.

These services are immediately available for institutional clients and accredited investors with a minimum on-ramp threshold of AED 368,000 (equivalent to USD $100K).


Hex Trust established a Dubai office in June 2022. It currently holds three Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licenses in Dubai, issued by the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA). This includes a license to provide Virtual Asset Custodial Services, a second license for its VA Broker-Dealer and and a third for VA Management and Investment arm, HT Markets MENA FZE.

As per the announcement, these licenses allow Hex Trust to offer comprehensive Virtual Asset services covering Broker-Dealer and Management and Investment Services, which include regulated Staking Services.


“We are one of the first VA broker-dealers in the MENA region to offer an efficient and secure bridge between fiat and virtual assets. This unique offering caters to the huge appetite for on/off-ramp services in Dubai and is a significant achievement for HT Markets MENA.
We see enormous potential for virtual asset growth in Dubai given the progressive regulations, welcoming governments, and thriving crypto ecosystem. ” Filippo Buzzi, Hex Trust’s Regional Director MENA.


Hex Trust Markets offers safe access to the DeFi ecosystem, where clients can generate yield with native on-chain staking solutions and execute trades with the support of Hex Trust’s dedicated Markets team. It also brings secure access to crypto-fiat conversions through Hex Trust’s fully-licensed, institutional-grade custody platform. This enables investors in Dubai to seamlessly move their cryptocurrencies into fiat currencies, fostering a secure and compliant trading environment.

BitPanda crypto exchange steps out of Europe to UAE

BitPanda crypto exchange steps out of Europe to UAE

Bitpanda, a European crypto platform, has obtained an in-principle approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), as its first expansion outside of Europe. BitPanda received the in-principle approval only after 8 months since submission.

As per the press release, once officially licensed, Bitpanda will be able to commence operations in the UAE as Bitpanda Broker MENA DMCC.

The expansion follows a series of strategic moves, including the establishment of its Dubai office at the DMCC Crypto Centre earlier this year, onboarding a team of regional experts, and forming key partnerships with financial institutions such as The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (“RAKBANK”) and CoinMENA, one of the UAE’s leading licensed crypto platforms.

Eric Demuth, Co-Founder and CEO of Bitpanda, commented, “In Europe, we have built a reputation as the most trusted and regulated digital asset platform. Now, we are scaling this proven model globally, with Dubai and the UAE serving as our strategic launchpad for international expansion. The opportunities are immense, and we are uniquely positioned to seize them – both as Europe’s leading crypto broker and as a top infrastructure provider in the digital assets space.”

Fabian Reinisch, General Counsel of Bitpanda, added: “Securing VARA’s in-principle approval in under eight months reflects the strength of VARA’s progressive regulatory framework and Bitpanda’s steadfast commitment to compliance and innovation. For over a decade, we have demonstrated that a compliance-first approach is the only path to sustainable and responsible growth in our industry. Now, we are extending this approach to markets beyond Europe.”

As it expands into the Middle East, Bitpanda is taking a decisive step toward a truly global presence, reaffirming its role as a pioneer in driving the adoption of digital assets around the world.

Digital asset platforms Fuze and Fils in UAE to embed sustainability in all crypto transactions

Digital asset platforms Fuze and Fils in UAE to embed sustainability in all crypto transactions

Fuze, a digital assets infrastructure provider in MENA, and Fils, an enterprise-grade digital infrastructure platform dedicated to embedding sustainability into every transaction, have partnered to launch the first-of-its-kind sustainable digital asset solution in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.

This collaboration will integrate blockchain-powered solutions through Fils’ use of the Layer-1 blockchain, ensuring transparency, traceability, and trust in every transaction, creating a seamless way for customers to measure and offset the carbon footprint of their digital asset purchases, supporting regional institutions and fintechs in meeting sustainability goals while navigating the growing demand for digital assets, and to lead in sustainability by aligning with global ESG goals.

The importance of this initiative is also underscored by the UAE’s rapidly growing digital assets market, which is projected to generate $453 million in revenue by the end of 2024, with further growth expected to surpass $616 million by 2028.


Nameer Khan, Founder and CEO of Fils, commented, “Our partnership with Fuze represents a milestone for both fintech and sustainability in the region. By embedding climate action directly into the digital assets ecosystem and leveraging the power of our blockchain technology, we’re providing the most comprehensive and first-of-its-kind solution that not only meets but exceeds global ESG expectations. This partnership underlines the growing importance of aligning financial innovation with environmental responsibility. Together, we are building the rails for a future where every transaction contributes to a greener planet, demonstrating how fintech can lead the charge in achieving net-zero goals.”
Mohammed Ali Yusuf (Mo Ali Yusuf), Co-Founder and CEO of Fuze, added, “Our partnership with Fils underscores Fuze’s commitment to innovation and responsibility. As digital assets become a mainstay for financial institutions, embedding sustainability in these transactions is essential for long-term growth and environmental stewardship. Together with Fils, we’re setting a new standard for green finance in the region.”
The partnership includes the following initiatives, providing real-time data on the environmental impact of digital asset transactions, empowering customers to make informed decisions, enabling customers to offset the carbon footprint of their transactions seamlessly, fostering climate-positive actions and helping banks and fintechs across the region adopt sustainable practices, aligning with global ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards.

The collaboration between Fuze and Fils reflects a shared vision for responsible innovation. By integrating sustainability into digital assets, the partnership supports businesses in achieving both financial and environmental goals, paving the way for a greener economy.
funds, and HNIs (high-net-worth individuals) in executing large digital asset trades securely and efficiently. Fuze also offers crypto payment solutions, facilitating global, real-time, multi-currency transactions for businesses.

Versifi an OTC crypto trading and lending firm receives initial approval from ADGM in UAE

Versifi an OTC crypto trading and lending firm receives initial approval from ADGM in UAE

VersiFi, a crypto and digital asset trading and lending firm, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM in UAE.

As per the announcement, subject to final regulatory approval, VersiFi will launch a fully regulated digital asset trading solution for institutional clients from its new global headquarters in ADGM.

VersiFi’s ADGM presence is led by a team of exceptional financial services executives whose experience spans both digital and traditional assets at firms such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, ADS Securities, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, Gemini, Interactive Brokers, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

VersiFi is working to address the IPA conditions and, subject to FSRA’s approval, plans to offer institutional clients a full trading solution, that will include direct Market Access (DMA) to leading digital asset trading venues; market-leading algorithmic trading that improves trade execution and efficiency; bilateral OTC trading in both spot and derivatives; powerful tools for real-time portfolio and risk management; a full range of KYC and AML protocols and segregated custody via secure, third-party digital asset custodians.


“ADGM has established one of the most robust and dynamic regulatory frameworks in the world and they are taking a leading role in the responsible regulation of digital assets,” said Sameer Shalaby, CEO, VersiFi.

“The FSRA has impressed us with its diligence and collaborative approach and we are committed to building and upholding the highest level of integrity and security as part of the progressive financial services community in the UAE. Receiving our IPA is a validation of our vision and an important step for VersiFi as we to contribute to the region’s digital asset growth story while building our own.”

“We are delighted to be the first DMA and OTC trading firm to be granted IPA,” said John Livingstone, ADGM Regional Head, VersiFi. “We are focused and actively working with the FSRA to comprehensively address all the IPA conditions and we are looking forward to serving clients globally from our ADGM headquarters.”

VersiFi is fully committed to the UAE, and subject to the regulatory approval and receipt of the Financial Services Permission, the company plans on making further investments to expand its presence in the region.

Crypto.com presents Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister with new crypto Mastercard prototype

Crypto.com presents Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister with new crypto Mastercard prototype

Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has met with the President and Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com, Eric Anziani, at Gudaibiya Palace where he presented His Royal Highness with the company’s new Mastercard prototype and is regarded as the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Crypto.com which recently secured a crypto payment service provider license in Bahrain partnered with Mastercard to directly issue cards on Mastercard’s network. It is a principal license that allows Crypto.com to launch a card in Bahrain powered by Mastercard. The new program will leverage Mastercard’s trusted, scalable and secure payments network to enable the crypto exchange customers to use their card at over 150 million in-store and online locations worldwide. Users can easily fund their cards through the Crypto.com app using e-money wallets or third party-issued credit and debit cards.

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

During the meeting, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing the financial services and digital technology sectors, both of which are priorities that contribute to supporting the Kingdom’s comprehensive development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted the significance of digital transformation in driving progress across key economic sectors to realise the Kingdom’s aspirations. He also reaffirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to attracting international companies across promising sectors, strengthening its regional and international position, and expanding growth across various industries.

Crypto.com President, Anziani concluded by expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to meet His Royal Highness and extended his wishes for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s continued progress and prosperity.

The Minister of Finance and National Economy, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and the Governor of Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), HE Khalid Ebrahim Humaidan, also attended the meeting.

Qatar Fintech Hub advance digital assets startups in acceleration program

Qatar Fintech Hub advance digital assets startups in acceleration program

Qatar Fintech Hub announced that Fintech and digital startups from 7countries showcased their solutions during the Demo Day which is the final milestone of the Wave 6 Incubation & Acceleration Program. These startups have advanced through the flagship program to develop their innovative solutions in line with the National FinTech Strategy focusing on two key themes of Islamic FinTech and Digital Assets.

The startups include names such as Alt DRX a B2B real Estate Marketplace for Indians to buy & sell tokenized properties 1 SQFT at a time; powered by algorithmic pricing, instant settlements & Blockchain ledgers.

The second startup to be pitching is ARCA X LLC which is building the bridge between Centralized Finance (CeFi) & Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Through Hard-Blockchain (HBC)™ our proprietary blockchain hardware infrastructure & software end-to-end solution.

The third is Blade Labs which combines AI, blockchain, and smart contracts to help financial institutions deploy Shariah-compliant capital more efficiently. Our embedded Islamic finance platform automates compliance, enhances transparency, and reduces processing time from weeks to minutes, providing secure and scalable solutions for the $3.9T Islamic finance market.

Also pitching is Credit Plus which is empowering SMEs by providing innovative supply chain finance solutions that enhance cash flow, promote financial inclusion, and drive economic growth, with a vision to be the leading digital platform for seamless collaboration between banks, buyers, and suppliers across the MENA region.

Other startups include

Dhahaby facilitates loans against gold, gold jewellery and luxury timepieces removing the friction in collateralized lending for borrowers and lenders.

Ehmini is a digital platform offering embedded Takaful insurance solutions tailored for low and middle income expatriates in Qatar and the GCC. We simplify access to affordable retirement and insurance products by integrating seamlessly with financial institutions and payment platforms.

Finrock is a B2B platform allowing any asset to be identified, verified, and transferred to the blockchain unlocking liquidity and creating a secondary market.

GreenVycto, which is a Carbon Credit Tokenization platform designed to accelerate sustainability through incentivizing eco-friendly actions and supporting a green economy.

Hemaayah is an Insuretech platform bringing insurance protection to 30 Million GCC employed blue-collar workers. Their remittance linked insurance product provides health and income protection benefit to 150 Million family members of migrant workers.

Kredflo is a Shariah-compliant anchor led supply chain finance which enhances cash flow for anchors/sellers by offering immediate payments, while providing buyers/borrowers with a cost-free credit line.

Sidra a tokenisation infrastructure service provider and finally Wafir which transforms traditional lending circles into a modern, digital experience, ensuring secure, transparent, and efficient community financing.

Nexera RWA tokenization platform interested in Qatar

Nexera RWA tokenization platform interested in Qatar

Nexera an infrastructure designed to enable the smooth integration of real-world assets into the digital space recently presented their solutions in Qatar at the Qatar Digital Assets Lab.

They have made trillions of dollars in tokenized assets accessible, transferable, and liquid across web3 by connecting platforms and marketplaces across multiple blockchains.

The company announced that so far in December it visited Qatar Digital Assets Lab to showcase their advanced real world assets tokenization solutions meeting with key players in the ecosystem. Their CEO and Founder Ajaja Rachid presented their real estate tokenization solutions there.

Nexera also recently partnered with modular blockchain powerhouse NULS. With over 1M+ cross-chain transactions, $NULS brings the firepower, and $NXRA opens the gateway to $100T+ in RWA tokenization.

Nexera’s founder and CEO, Rachid Ajaja, shared insights on the synergy between AI agents and tokenization. This is a must-read for anyone following the intersection of blockchain and AI.

The company has also participated at the Plug and Play Tech Center Türkiye Expo 2024, Rachid presented “Scaling AI Infrastructure Through Tokenization,” showcasing the potential of AI and blockchain convergence.

In addition the company joined forces with Bitlayer, bringing tokenization infrastructure to Bitcoin. Bitlayer, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin L2, combines Bitcoin’s security with Ethereum’s flexibility.

More and more DLT, Blockchain entities are entering Qatar Digital Assets Lab.

For example Indian headquartered, Ryzer a blockchain-based (Token Service Provider) real estate investment platform, has been accepted into Qatar Digital Labs within the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) digital asset tokenization regulatory framework

In addition to others such as Singaporean Blockchain fintech company DMZ Finance which has been chosen by Qatar QFC as well as Blade Labs which tokenizes financial productions and services.

Web3 Bank Klickl headquartered in UAE raises $25 million

Web3 Bank Klickl headquartered in UAE raises $25 million

UAE regulated Klickl International offering Web3 banking services, has closed an oversubscribed $25 million Series A funding round. This latest achievement brings Klickl’s valuation to $125 million.

The round was co-led by prominent Web3 investors Web3Port Foundation and Aptos Labs, joined by notable participants including Summer Ventures, Heritage Horizon Capital, V2 Capital, Alpha Square Group, Heng Feng Group, Trend Investment, and Bond Group.

This funding milestone positions the Web3 Blockchain enabled bank for accelerated growth in the burgeoning global Web3 banking space. Klickl Labs will spearhead strategic joint ventures leveraging its Web3 banking services, virtual asset servicing, and crypto payments/brokerage platform, targeting high-growth markets in the Middle East and Africa and act as an incubator for high-impact ventures, fostering scalable solutions in cross-border remittance and digital payment infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Klickl Foundation will channel investments into the Klickl Web3 ecosystem, setting new benchmarks for the PayFi industry.

Web3Port Foundation, a renowned investment and accelerator platform supporting over 1,000 Web3 projects, will play a pivotal role in Klickl’s expansion. As a founding strategic partner, Web3Port will serve as a Limited Partner for the Klickl Foundation’s Web3 Fund and leverage its expertise in tokenomics to drive mass adoption of Web3 technologies.

Bobby Zhou, Chairman of Web3Port UAE, commented, “We are thrilled to support Klickl in its journey to redefine global Web3 banking services. This partnership also marks a significant step in our UAE expansion strategy. In 2024, Web3Port has partnered with RPG Holdings in Abu Dhabi and 19 leading VC firms to establish a stronger Web3 presence in the UAE. Together with local government and regulators, we aim to foster rapid innovation and community growth in the Web3 ecosystem.”

The Aptos Network is a Layer 1 blockchain, renowned for its breakthrough technology and Move programming language. Aptos Network is designed to continuously evolve, deliver exceptional performance, and reinforce user security safeguards. It is the first blockchain to achieve sub-second end-to-end (E2E) latency, setting a new standard in blockchain performance.

Michael Zhao, Founder and CEO of Klickl, stated,“The support from Web3Port Foundation, Aptos Labs, and our long-term investors — including Summer Ventures, Heritage Horizon Capital, V2 Capital, Alpha Square Group, Heng Feng Group, Trend Investment, and Bond Group— highlights the strength of our vision. This funding empowers us to expand our Web3 banking services, focusing on emerging markets across MENA and beyond. We are especially grateful to the local authorities for their forward-thinking regulatory support under ADGM, which has been instrumental in positioning Klickl as the region’s first fully licensed Web3 banking service, offering crypto custody and brokerage solutions.”

Zand Bank now a licensed crypto custodian in UAE

Zand Bank now a licensed crypto custodian in UAE

UAE based Zand Bank, an AI powered digital bank, has received a full VASP license from Dubai’s virtual assets regulatory authority (VARA) allowing it to offer crypto custodial services. The license allows Zand to offer crypto and digital asset custodial services to institutional investors and qualified investors.

Zand, the AI-powered bank for the digital economy and first fully licensed all-digital bank in the United Arab Emirates was founded to support the digital economy and bridge the gap between Traditional Finance (TradFi) and Decentralized Finance (DeFi).

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Zand, commented: “This approval from VARA is a milestone for Zand and the UAE’s digital economy. It reflects our commitment to bold innovation and sustainable growth. Our mission is to establish Zand as a cornerstone of the UAE’s evolving financial landscape, contributing to the nation’s ambition to be a global financial powerhouse.”

Michael Chan, CEO of Zand, added: “We would like to extend a heartfelt token of appreciation to VARA for their continued support of Zand. Our Digital Asset Custody service is a significant step in UAE banking. By providing institutional-grade security for digital assets, we are equipping our clients with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy. The upcoming launch of Zand’s AED-backed stablecoin will further enhance our ability to integrate TradFi and DeFi, reinforcing our leadership in this space.”

Zand Bank has been chosen by several crypto exchanges and brokers who are working in the UAE as their digital banking partner. With Zand’s new crypto custodial license, VARA would have licensed three crypto custodians, Zand, Hex Trust, and Komainu.

Zand Bank has been growing its presence and offering within the UAE and GCC region. It has signed several partnerships over the past year, the last being with Paymentology.

Paymentology and Zand will enable fintech entities to thrive by offering a range of specialized services, including BIN-sponsorship, virtual IBANs, and Client Money Accounts. These services are designed to help fintech entities launch and scale faster, providing them with the infrastructure to bring their solutions to market efficiently.

The timing aligns with the UAE government’s push to establish a strong digital economy through the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to double the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP from 9.7% (April 2022) to 19.4% over the next decade.

Additionally, IDA, a Hong Kong-based stablecoin issuer, also partnered with UAE Zand Bank, to offer cost-effective and efficient cross-border transactions across the Belt and Road regions and BRICS Plus. As per the press release both entities aim to provide businesses with streamlined 24/7 digital payments.

Updated Dec 14th with quotes