Oman based Mamun to invest $1 million in Shariah compliant and digital asset startups

Oman based Mamun to invest $1 million in Shariah compliant and digital asset startups

Oman based Mamun Ventures announced that it will be investing $1 million in Shariah compliant startups and digital asset startups.

As per a LinkedIn post Mamun stated, “Exciting News!  Mamun is dedicating $1,000,000 USD to Invest in Sharia-Compliant Startups in MENA Region! We’re thrilled to announce that Mamun Ventures is allocating $1,000,000 USD in funding from our generous partners to fuel our mission of investing in innovative startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

Startups in the MENA region, at early stages, pre-seed or seed stages are eligible.

Mamun notes that they are interesting in startups that have a marketplace angle and involve supply chain participants.

Mohammed Al-Tamami speaking to LaraontheBock stated, “We will also be investing in Shariah compliant digital assets, Web3 companies, crypto entities covering the entire Shariah compliant space.”

In December 2023, UAE and Singapore based Triterras, a fintech company focused on digital trade and supply chain finance, using Blockchain enabled trade finance platform Kratos, partnered with Oman based Mamun, fintech infrastructure provider to bolster trade finance in Oman.

In February of this year, Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) announced its roadmap for 2024 which will encompass 130 initiatives of which blockchain technology will play a part.  The Oman Ministry of Housing intends to launch a unified portal with one of its main components being blockchain.

Oman was also one of the first countries in the MENA region to launch crypto mining datacenters.

UAE AYA Blockchain fundraising platform for sustainability partners with Blockpass

UAE AYA Blockchain fundraising platform for sustainability partners with Blockpass

UAE based AYA, a regulated fundraising platform focused on the intersection of Blockchain and sustainability has partnered with Blockpass, Web3 OG identity verifier, to strengthen AYA’s compliance procedures.

Through the partnership Blockpass will provide risk assessment and risk classification of onboarding customers, customized forms based on the customer’s and regulator’s requirements, regular rigorous wallet compliance checks to protect user transactions, and evaluation of risks associated with wallets to ensure the absence of fraudulent and suspicious transactions.

This will involve the gamut of Blockpass’ products, including KYC, KYB and AML solutions, the new Advanced KYC Bot™, ongoing monitoring, and Blockpass’ Unhosted Wallet KYC™.

Blockpass, has pioneered reusable identities and crypto-native KYC/AML solutions. Its turnkey suite of compliance tools is designed to lower onboarding costs, automate remediation, prove humanity and protect against malicious actors, fraudulent activities, bots, and AI.

Businesses can set up services quickly, test them for free, and start verifying users. With around one million verified identity profiles, Blockpass facilitates instant onboarding, and to date over a thousand businesses have taken advantage of this opportunity to benefit from Blockpass’ compliant network.

AYA is the Middle East and North Africa region’s first regulated Climate Finance Platform, regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in 2023. Built on blockchain technology, AYA focuses on helping climate tech projects raise capital from its community of investors, utilizing carbon and nature-based credits as assets. AYA will leverage its team’s experience from building and running Enjinstarter – an extensive crowdfunding platform focused on gaming, entertainment, and the metaverse – to curate a nurturing ecosystem of mentorship, funding and collaboration where trailblazers can leave a lasting legacy of sustainability for future generations.

“Through our strategic partnership with Blockpass, we at AYA reaffirm our commitment to upholding the highest standards of AML and KYC practices in the industry. This collaboration underscores our dedication to fostering a secure, compliant, and trustworthy environment for our users, laying the foundation for a more responsible and sustainable future in the virtual asset space.” said Vasseh Ahmed, Managing Director of AYA.

“We’re delighted to be working with a company that is so focused on the future of both blockchain technology and the planet.” said Blockpass CEO Adam Vaziri. “We have previously worked with Enjinstarter and it’s an honor to be chosen once again to work with such a visionary team on such an important project.”

By working together, Blockpass and AYA will ensure that the sustainable futures of blockchain technology and the world are secured against identity fraud and money laundering. In ensuring regulatory compliance, Blockpass will help AYA grow and flourish as it seeks to nourish suitable projects and innovate in a responsible manner.

Venom Blockchain Foundation exits UAE to The Cayman Islands

Venom Blockchain Foundation exits UAE to The Cayman Islands

One year ago to date, the Abu Dhabi Global Market, (ADGM) an international financial center, based out of Abu Dhabi UAE, had announced on LinkedIn that Venom Foundation was the first licensed crypto foundation which would be building a scalable blockchain, today Venom Foundation is no longer in ADGM, but has established a new foundation in the Cayman Islands.

A year ago, ADGM was very hopeful. ADGM statement read, “Venom Foundation is set to become one of the most anticipated blockchain phenomena, enriching the ADGM community and the nation as a whole! Subject to the relevant regulatory approvals, Venom Foundation will work with ecosystem participants to ensure that such products are offered in a compliant manner within the trusted and well-regulated environment of ADGM.”

Today Venom’s announcement made on medium changes the narrative, as Venom Blockchain gears up towards its mainnet launch on March 18th 2024. The post reads, “Recently, Venom underwent a transformative phase by establishing a new foundation in the Cayman Islands. This strategic move signifies a leap forward, aligning Venom with the progressive regulatory framework of the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). By doing so, Venom reaffirms its commitment to providing secure, reliable, and innovative cryptocurrency services to its users worldwide.”

So it would seem that either ADGM dropped Venom Foundation after all the turmoil that the entity went through in the past year, or Venom Foundation dropped ADGM license, created a new foundation, and set it up in the Cayman Islands and BVI.  

Talking about turmoil, Venom Foundation was brawled in a legal battle. In July 2023, Alibek Garcia Isaev, one of the main investors in Venom Foundation, was pushed into the center of a very controversial legal entanglement which brought a lot of criticism not only to Issaev but inadvertently Venom Blockchain, and its Foundation. He was then found innocent in December 2023.

But before the final ruling, Venom had also lost one of its very early investors and executives. Mustafa Kheriba, the Executive Chairman of Venomex, a UAE regulated crypto exchange and one of the initial investors and supporters of UAE based Venom Blockchain Foundation resigned from his position at Venom Foundation. It is noteworthy that it seems the relationship between Venomex and Venom Foundation is no longer there. Venomex looks to be a standalone entity still regulated in ADGM, while on Venom Foundation website, there is no mention of Venomex anymore. What’s more Kheriba is still a registered director according to FSRA website.

In the about section of Venom Foundation on medium, the company notes that Venom is a multi-blockchain network being a basis for scalable Web3 applications in the DeFi and Global Payments markets. Venom Foundation main priority to develop and support a self-sufficient blockchain ecosystem has attracted developers to build various projects: VenomWallet (non-custodial wallet with a multisig option and ledger support), VenomScan (to access transactions history), VenomGet (an easy gateway to Venom tokens), VenomBridge (allowing the interchain transactions), VenomPools (to stake on validator nodes), Web3.World (native decentralized exchange). No Venomex exchange is listed.

So while Venom Foundation has moved on to greener pastures, so has ADGM. It launched its new DLT regulation that would allow DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) Foundations, DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) to issue tokens. Soon afterwards, IoTa Foundation received the first DLT Foundation license.

If there is one takeaway from all this, it is that the virtual assets scene is ever changing and the regulations ever growing. So while the UAE says goodbye to Venom Foundation, as it did to Hayvn, it is welcoming many others onboard.

Moroccan Blockchain startup raises $1.5 million for brand loyalty market

Moroccan Blockchain startup raises $1.5 million for brand loyalty market

Tookeez, a Moroccan Blockchain loyalty startup, has raised $1.5 million from Azur Innovation Fund, a public private seed capital fund in Morocco.

As per the press release, the startup plans to use the funds to expand into Morocco and the MENA region. The funds will also go into technical development for its blockchain technology system. The fintech startup is a universal system that aggregates loyalty points from a wide range of brands into a single wallet. This wallet enables transactions to be carried out across a wide network of shops and brands, making the platform a source of additional value and complementary income for the ecosystem.

Following this, tookeez plans to expand into other African countries by 2026 to reach 4 million active members by 2028.

Hicham Amadi, Wiam and Siham Emejjad founded tookeez with an aim of eliminating the challenges associated with loyalty point conversions and transforms the royalty program ecosystem. The biggest challenge is point accumulation which is usually slow, while redemption is also difficult.

Siham Elmejjad, CEO of tookeez, comments, “We are humbled by the trust of our investors. This fundraising marks a crucial step in our development. Our goal is to reach 4 million active members by 2028. To make tookeez a true ecosystem of economic and financial inclusion for our continent.”

tookeez collects loyalty points from multiple brands and stores them in a wallet, which users can then use to transact across a large network of stores and brands. Brands use tookeez to allow their customers to pay with accumulated points.

Azur Innovation Fund noted that it is proud to collaborate with tookeez, recognizing that the startup is redefining the customer loyalty ecosystem. “Our ambition is to support entrepreneurs who have a significant impact on the world, and tookeez embodies this vision perfectly,” Adnane Filali, President of Azur Innovation Fund, said.

The loyalty market in Africa and the Middle East is expected to reach $6.48 billion in 2024. Between 2019 to 2023, this market recorded a CAGR value of 12.1%. It is predicted that this market in the region will continue to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% between 2024-2028.

Cardano accelerator and Saudi ventures ASFA to drive Web3 adoption in KSA

Cardano accelerator and Saudi ventures ASFA to drive Web3 adoption in KSA

Adaverse, a Cardano focused accelerator that supports Web3 and blockchain solutions with funding, mentorship and tech infrastructure, has signed an MOU with Saudi based ASFA Ventures to drive Web3 innovation in KSA and beyond.

ASFA ventures is a ventures capital builder that focuses on technology ventures, Web3 technologies. It has already invested in Saudi projects such as AqarToken, and Tokenha. In the meantime, Adaverse has funded 40+ startups across Africa, Asia and beyond.

As per the statement on X, “We’re excited to announce Adaverse has signed an MOU with ASFA Ventures to drive Web3 innovation in Saudi Arabia and beyond. This partnership will empower startups, together we advance tech landscape across MENA.”

The MOU between Adaverse and ASFA plans to boost start up growth, drive Web3 innovation and empower technology advancement.

Adaverse adds, “This marks a pivotal step towards propelling Web3 innovation in Saudi Arabia. Together with ASFA Ventures, we’re on a mission to empower entrepreneurs and set new benchmarks in the digital landscape across MENA.”

Earlier this year, Adaverse invested in Saudi based Blockchain Fintech startup Takadao. This came at the heels of Adaverse’s expansion into Saudi Arabia with the opening of an office in Riyadh. Adaverse became the first venture capital fund in the KSA to specialize in Web3 and blockchain early-stage investing. In 2024, the company plans on investing $10 million in local Saudi Web3 startups.

Customers of M2 crypto exchange can win big with token loyalty campaign

Customers of M2 crypto exchange can win big with token loyalty campaign

M2, the UAE regulated crypto exchange has launched a token loyalty reward program. By simply holding MMX tokens, users win a guaranteed share of up to 300,000 USDT. The campaign aims to reward al MMX token holder on M2 exchange.

The campaign, which runs March 8th to April 19th, offers participants the chance to win their share of a 300,000 USDT simply by holding MMX tokens in their M2 wallet.

How does it work? It is simple, hold a minimum of 200 MMX tokens in a M2 wallet to qualify for entry into the draws. The more MMX tokens held, the greater your chances of winning. Existing MMX holders are automatically eligible for the draw from the campaign’s launch date. New customers can join the campaign by purchasing 200 MMX tokens during the campaign period.

Weekly Draws Schedule:

• 15th March: 20,000 USDT draw – top prize 2,000 USDT

• 22nd March: 30,000 USDT draw – top prize 3,000 USDT

• 29th March: 40,000 USDT draw – top prize 4,000 USDT

• 5th April: 50,000 USDT draw – top prize 5,000 USDT

• 12th April: 60,000 USDT draw – top prize 6,000 USDT

• 19th April: 100,000 USDT draw – top prize 10,000 USDT

The campaign will conclude with a final draw on April 19th at the Token2049 event in Dubai, featuring a top prize of 10,000 USDT from a guaranteed prize pool of 100,000 USDT.

“Our MMX token promotion campaign underscores our commitment to rewarding our loyal community members and driving engagement within the MMX ecosystem,” said Stefan Kimmel, CEO of M2. “We’re excited to offer this exclusive opportunity to our valued MMX holders and look forward to seeing the positive impact it has on our community.”

To qualify for the MMX Loyalty Rewards, participants are required to hold their MMX tokens within an M2 wallet. All M2, MMX holders, whether existing or new, are eligible to participate in the campaign from the day of its launch subject to the exclusions specified in the Terms and Conditions. This inclusive approach ensures that all members of the MMX community have the opportunity to take part and potentially win big.

To participate in the campaign, MMX holders simply need to ensure they hold a minimum of 200 MMX tokens in their M2 wallet. Existing holders are automatically entered into the draw, while new customers can join by purchasing 200 MMX tokens during the campaign period.

This offer is from M2 Global Wealth Limited, a registered Digital Asset Business regulated and authorized by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas. It is not a product offered by M2 Limited; M2 Custody Limited, which is regulated and licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market.

UAE RAK DAO signs MOU with Tencent Cloud for innovation

UAE RAK DAO signs MOU with Tencent Cloud for innovation

In a spree of MOUs and partnerships, the RAK Digital Assets Oasis, digital asset free common law free zone has signed another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a global tech player, Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of tech company Tencent.

As per the Linkedin post of CEO of RAK DAO Dr. Sameer AlAnsari, “I’m delighted to share that RAK DAO has officially signed a memorandum of understanding with Tencent Cloud, a renowned global pioneer in internet and technology. This significant collaboration marks a milestone in our journey toward innovation and advancement. Tencent is the 7th largest company in the world by market capitalization.”

He adds, “Moreover, we are incredibly honored that the signing ceremony was graced by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. His esteemed presence underscores the importance and impact of this partnership for our region and beyond.”

The collaboration is geared towards nurturing entrepreneurship, enhancing skill development, and fostering ecosystem growth. This marks a crucial milestone in shaping the trajectory of the digital economy for the future.

This announcement comes at the same time that Saudi Arabian Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), a leading digital enabler in the technology, media, and Tencent Cloud, launch the ‘Go Saudi’ program, aimed at revolutionizing the digital landscape of the Kingdom as it grows into a global business and entertainment hub.

In September 2023, Tencent Cloud, launched its first Web3-native product, Tencent Cloud Blockchain RPC. Jointly developed with Ankr, the offering delivers Web3 infrastructure, along with developer services to Web3 builders. By introducing Blockchain RPC, Tencent Cloud is striving to provide a blockchain node infrastructure solution that is fast and robust, enabling developers to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving Web3 environment.

RAK DAO (Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis) has also been developing partnerships with Blockchain and Web3 entities such as BlockLogica, Conflux, as well as meeting with Ethereum Founder.

Qatar shrimp farm to raise $285 million using security token offering

Qatar shrimp farm to raise $285 million using security token offering

Stobox Blockchain tokenization solution provider has announced that it will be working with Qatar based ICM Capital to raise $285 million for the biggest aqua marine shrimp farm using a security token offering (STO).

The project will introduce security token offerings for aquaculture industry utilizing Stobox’s expertise in tokenization and blockchain technology. Stobox offers Securities issuance, management, and trading on a blockchain.

Jason Jones Head of Global STO Sales Consulting & Client Project Management at Stobox, states, “Stobox will be handling the legal, technology and consulting requirements for the project.”

ICM Capital aims to raise $285 million for the development of the Shrimp Farm Project. This capital has been earmarked for scaling operations, enhancing sustainability practices, and ensuring the farm’s competitiveness on the global stage.

ICM Capital with headquarters in the UK, opened an office in Qatar as part of the firm’s expansion into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The multi-regulated broker gained authorization from the Qatar Financial Centre to establish a physical presence in the state.

As per Stobox announcement, through this tokenization effort, ICM Capital is not only seeking financial investment but also inviting global stakeholders to be a part of a sustainable and profitable future in aquaculture. Tokenization brings efficiency to the traditionally complex issuance of securities by leveraging blockchain technology, offering a more streamlined and technologically advanced approach to the entire process.

This comes as Qatar has moved full force into the digital assets field announcing its digital assets lab as well as upcoming digital assets regulatory framework. QFC has mentioned on several occasions that they are interested in seeing security token offerings, tokenization of real estate and more.

Morgan Stanley opens office in ADGM as it eyes Bitcoin ETF in the United States

Morgan Stanley opens office in ADGM as it eyes Bitcoin ETF in the United States

Morgan Stanley, which is said to be eyeing a Bitcoin ETF, has announced the opening of its office in Abu Dhabi at ADGM. The firm has expanded its footprint in the Middle East. The firm already has offices in Riyadh, Dubai, and Qatar.

Commenting on the new office, Clare Woodman, Head of Morgan Stanley EMEA and CEO of Morgan Stanley & Co International plc, said “We are delighted to be expanding our regional presence and commitment by opening an office in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). There are exciting times ahead for the MENA region and as capital markets activity continues to grow and diversify it brings new and rewarding opportunities for both regional and global investors.”

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief of Market Development at ADGM, continued “We welcome Morgan Stanley, a pioneer in the global financial services industry to Abu Dhabi and its thriving International Financial Centre. This expansion underscores the attractiveness of Abu Dhabi and its value proposition as a preferred destination for global players seeking strategic growth opportunities for their business, showcasing our commitment to fostering a conducive ecosystem that drives sustainable economic development in the UAE and beyond.”

Patrick Delivanis, Regional Co-Head of MENA at Morgan Stanley commented, “We have a highly sophisticated investor base in the MENA region, and opening an office in Abu Dhabi allows us to broaden our footprint and further deliver local and regional clients access to Morgan Stanley’s leading institutional securities business as well as our renowned asset management franchise, and increasingly, global clients access to the regional market.”

The opening of an office in ADGM, well known for its virtual assets regulatory regime is interesting as Morgan Stanely is said to be deciding on whether or not it will offer Bitcoin ETFs to customers.

As per a CoinDesk article, Wall Street giant Morgan Stanley is in the midst of performing due diligence to add spot bitcoin ETF products to its brokerage platform, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

One of the people said Morgan Stanley, which is among the largest U.S. broker-dealer platforms, has been evaluating offering spot bitcoin ETFs to clients since the Securities and Exchange Commission approved their introduction in the U.S. in January.

There are 10 spot bitcoin ETFs now trading in the U.S. The ones with the most assets are Grayscale’s GBTC, BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. It’s not clear which ones Morgan Stanley is looking to offer to its clients.

Morgan Stanley, a leader in the alternative investments and private market space with over $150 billion in assets under management, was the first major U.S. bank to offer its wealthy clients access to bitcoin funds in 2021. The bank confirmed during its first-quarter earnings call in April 2021 that it was offering its wealth management clients exposure to bitcoin via a pair of external crypto funds.

The wealth management firm’s former CFO, Jonathan Pruzan, said at the time that the bank was allowing qualified investors to gain access to two passive funds. It is understood that these funds were offered by Galaxy Digital and NYDIG.

Peregrine and Tsangs offer blockchain tokenization to institutional investors

Peregrine and Tsangs offer blockchain tokenization to institutional investors

Abu Dhabi based Peregrine, a digital asset tokenization provider and a licensed fund management platform, has partnered with Tsangs Group, innovation focused family office to offer high quality institutional investor marketplace in UAE.

“Tsangs Group is the first Far East family office to set up in the Dubai International Financial Centre since 2021; we are pleased to shape our profile with this promising partnership, as Peregrine is banking on the Gulf state’s world class banking infrastructure and connectivity to financial centers like Hong Kong or London,” said Patrick Tsang, Chairman of Tsangs Group.

Peregrine is renowned for its industry leading blockchain based asset tokenisation platform, which has been reviewed by the ADGM’s local regulatory body Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), and its strategic partnerships with major blockchains.

“Peregrine views Tsangs Group as a key global strategic partner featuring a world class team with high quality institutional assets and is compelled by the mission to bridge opportunities from East to West,” said Simon Goodman, CEO & Co-Founder of Peregrine.

Together, Peregrine and Tsangs Group are perfectly positioned to bring high quality institutional products to the ADGM using advanced blockchain technology.

“Abu Dhabi is quickly emerging as a key strategic hub in the global digital assets industry, and the Peregrine platform sees itself at the forefront of its evolution. Building relationships in Abu Dhabi and beyond is instrumental to the development of Peregrine in the ADGM and surrounding region,” said Paul Salama-Caro, CIO and Co-Founder of Peregrine.