UAE based Cypher Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in Web3, Blockchain, and crypto startups has invested in Bitcoin DeFi platform Velar.
Velar closed its seed funding round of $3.5 million from a range of notable Web3 investors. The round attracted participation from key ventures including Bitcoin Startup Lab, CMS Holdings, Black Edge Capital, GBV, Cypher Capital, Trust Machines SPV, Transform Capital, Maple Block and Samara Asset Group, among others.
Building on the unprecedented interest and growth in DeFi over the past few years that attracted over $100B in liquidity to the Ethereum network, Velar is deploying the world’s first perpetual decentralized exchange (PerpDEX) on Bitcoin.
Velar aims to unlock the $800 billion of dormant network liquidity to Bitcoin’s evolving DeFi landscape, and in doing so, offer BTC holders the same value proposition and yields that have been so successful in the Ethereum ecosystem.
The company is currently preparing for the mainnet launch of Dharma, the first ever Uniswap v2-inspired AMM built on popular Bitcoin Layer Stacks.
Velar intends to use the new capital to accelerate development of its PerpDEX Velar Artha. The platform will leverage Stacks to enable liquidity for DeFi dApps on Bitcoin, with Velar Artha due to launch in Q2 2024.
Despite initially launching on Stacks, Velar is a L2-agnostic protocol and will also integrate other leading Bitcoin L2s. Cem Özer, Co-Founder and CEO of Sovereign labs, and Alexei Zamyatin, Co-Founder of Build on Bitcoin (BoB), both prominent upcoming Bitcoin L2s have also participated in Velar’s funding round as angel investors.
“Velar’s successful funding round is a validation of our mission to make Proof-of-Work and Bitcoin the base layer of DeFi. Velar is set to redefine what’s possible, facilitating $800B worth of dormant liquidity to be used in DeFi; and we’re excited to invite the world to be a part of this groundbreaking journey,” said Mithil Thakore, Co-Founder and CEO of Velar.
“DeFi is the logical next step for Bitcoin. Introducing perps for Bitcoin and other assets that can be swapped in a decentralized way, and earn rewards will help unlock the $500B in untapped value on Bitcoin,” said Muneeb Ali, Co-Creator of Stacks. “This fundraise helps the team at Velar build a liquidity protocol that will be a major gateway for the usability being unlocked by sBTC on Bitcoin L2.”
Velar’s eventual product suite will include an AMM, project launchpad, and PerpDEX, with the latter enabling institutions to utilize their dormant BTC holdings as collateral in a non-custodial way. Velar launched its AMM testnet last May which saw over 165,000 testnet wallets created, a record for a Bitcoin-focused DeFi project.
Over the past few months more and more Web3 and Blockchain companies have been hiring for managerial positions in the MENA and GCC region. One of the latest is the new Managing Director of Middle East and Africa for Ripple, Mr. Reece Merrick as well as Amir Tabch CEO for APAC and MENA at Liminal Custody Solutions.
In a LinkedIn post, Reece Merrick stated, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Managing Director, Middle East & Africa at Ripple!”
While Web3 entity, Liminal Custody Solutions (Liminal), the fastest-growing digital asset custody and wallet infrastructure provider in the APAC and MENA announced in a press release the appointment of Amir Tabch as its CEO for the Middle East region.
Mr. Tabch, a seasoned financial services executive and fintech pioneer, brings over two decades of experience in leading and scaling businesses across traditional and digital asset markets.
Prior to this, Mr. Tabch held senior leadership positions at SC Meta Markets, Emirates Investment Bank, and First Abu Dhabi Bank, where he honed his expertise in global markets, multi-asset trading, and regulatory compliance. He was also the Ex Copper Securities CEO.
Mr. Tabch’s appointment is part of Liminal’s strategic expansion in the Middle East and expansion of its custody offerings.
In addition Landvault appointed Muhammad Hamza as Landvault’s Vice President of Business GCC. Based in Dubai, Muhammad’s extensive expertise in artificial intelligence, metaverse technologies, and virtual development will further drive Landvault’s business strategy and oversee our international expansion in the GCC region. Landvault has built over 100 million square feet in virtual experiences for brands including Mastercard, Standard Chartered, Hershey, and more.
Even entities within the UAE are announcing new appointments, such as HUB71 which announced that Ahmad Ali Alwan has transitioned from Deputy Chief Executive Officer to Chief Executive Officer of Hub71 as of January 2024.
Alwan joined Hub71 as a founding member in 2019 and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hub71 in October 2022. Since then, Alwan has played a critical role in spearheading Hub71’s strategic development to become one of the region’s premier tech startup hubs supporting more than 260 startups that raised over AED 5 billion in capital.
His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of Hub71, said: “Within Abu Dhabi’s soaring ‘Falcon Economy’, Hub71’s transformative impact on the startup landscape is undeniable. Under the ambitious leadership of Hub71, startups globally have a destination where innovation thrives, and growth unlocks endless possibilities. Ahmad has witnessed Hub71 growth stages and played a pivotal role in building the global tech ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. The journey ahead is an exciting, and we are confident that his deep knowledge and experience in helping startups and founders grow and scale disruptive technology companies from the UAE will shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem.”
In 2023 for example, Web3 Blockchain company, Circle appointed its Vice President for Middle East and Africa, Miriam Kiwan. Many others have been hired over the past two years, as both local and globaly players flock to the region.
The Swiss based Crypto Valley Association; a nonprofit crypto and blockchain ecosystem announced that the Bahrain Economic Development Board, which focuses on attracting investments to Bahrain, has become its latest member.
As per the announcement, the association noted, “We are beyond excited to announce Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) as our newest corporate member!”
Bahrain Economic Development Board collaborates with government bodies and investors globally to identify and cultivate mutually beneficial opportunities, actively contributing to Bahrain’s economic diversification and sustainable growth.
The Crypto Valley Association is known as Switzerland’s leading blockchain & crypto ecosystem. It has been fostering collaboration and growth in the global blockchain ecosystem since 2017.
Bahrain was the first country in the GCC to incorporate crypto exchanges under a regulatory regime. It currently has three licensed crypto exchanges and brokers, including RAIN, Binance and CoinMENA.
It seems Bahrain is gearing towards attracting more crypto and blockchain companies to the country in 2024.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health, the healthcare regulator, has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), the operator of Abu Dhabi’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform “Malaffi”, and MSD GCC, a leading biopharmaceutical company, to experiment with blockchain technology for pharmaceutical industry.
The MoU was signed by H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director from MSD GCC, and Kareem Shahin, Acting CEO from ADHDS on the sidelines of Arab Health 2024.
As per the press release, the agreement will see the three entities come together and collaborate to assess blockchain potential, while utilizing the neutral platform of the PharmaLedger Association (PLA), a non-profit global organization, to assess the technology and framework potential to support Abu Dhabi in achieving its ambitious vision of fortifying its healthcare ecosystem.
MSD GCC will play a pivotal role in this collaboration by providing its thought leadership and leveraging its extensive experience with blockchain technology across various application areas and markets.
H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said: “The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s (DoH) partnership with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS) and MSD GCC serves as a testament to our commitment of working alongside strategic partners within the healthcare sector, to shape a future driven by healthcare technology. This collaboration further solidifies the Department’s ongoing efforts in leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the population’s health and well-being, ultimately paving the way for improved healthcare outcomes, and advancing patient-centric care within the Emirate. These efforts further cement Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for healthcare and a hub for life sciences.”
Kareem Shahin, Acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), stated: “One of the areas of interest for the application of this technology for Abu Dhabi is enhancing data security and goods traceability among others. We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and MSD GCC. ADHDS will be the driving force behind the technical aspects of this partnership, which includes spearheading the assessment of the potential of blockchain technology in the Emirate.”
Shahin added: “At ADHDS, we understand the critical importance of safeguarding patient information while enabling seamless data sharing for improved healthcare outcomes. With our expertise and experience in health data management, following the successful implementation of Malaffi as the first and foremost HIE in the MENA region, we are uniquely positioned to take the lead in delivering a robust and secure blockchain infrastructure that protects the privacy and integrity of health data in Abu Dhabi. We are excited about the possibilities this partnership holds for transforming the healthcare landscape in the Emirate and ensuring the highest standards of data security and interoperability.”
Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director, MSD GCC noted, “On its part, MSD will be bringing to the table its strategic expertise and extensive experience in the application of blockchain technology within the healthcare sector across various areas and markets. At MSD GCC, we recognise the immense potential of blockchain in revolutionizing healthcare delivery and data security as we are committed to providing our strategic insights, knowledge, and advice to drive the advancement of blockchain usage in the healthcare sector in the Emirates.”
Crysp Farms, a UAE based innovator and operator of decentralized blockchain enabled vertical farms, has secured a $2.25 million ‘Pre-Series A’ round structured and led by Gate Capital with participation from regional investors, including those from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The homegrown ‘Farming as a Service’ provider builds and operates bespoke onsite hydroponic farms catering to hospitality groups, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and hypermarkets. Notably, its high-quality produce is served in venues recognized by the leading awards and guides, such as Gault & Millau and Michelin.
The funding round will focus on scaling the company’s expansion strategy across the region and delivering committed contracts internationally.
Crysp Farms,is the only Blockchain enabled hyperlocal farming provider in the region. Each farm provides continuous access to onsite fresh produce and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the outcomes of COP28. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), between 30 and 40% of total food production is lost before it even reaches the consumer. Through Crysp Farms, there is close to zero spoilage.
With the current funding round, Crysp Farms will continue its strategic expansion, introducing new farms in prestigious hotels and resorts managed by global leaders like Hilton Worldwide, Jumeirah Group, and Marriott International, among others.
In the last month, Blockchain enabled Crysp Farms partnered with five new properties, bringing its sustainable farms to more than 20 locations across the UAE, with many more in the pipeline across regional and international destinations, including the Seychelles and Maldives.
As per the press release, the business will target expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, enabling and enhancing local food production through innovative technology, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The business aims to support the hospitality and healthcare sectors across major cities and new development projects in the Kingdom.
Speaking about the investment round, Maan Said, CEO and founder of Crysp Farms, said, “This financial and strategic investment opens up opportunities and enables the business to scale exponentially across our target markets. Through our partner relationships, we are eager to create a more sustainable world through hyperlocal farming. We are proud to receive the support of Gate Capital and other leading investors in this round, as we look forward to sustainably scaling our operations.”
Munther Hilal, Chief Executive and Founder of Gate Capital, said, “Crysp Farms has grown from an innovative idea to disrupt agriculture into a tangible green investment opportunity, with sturdy unit economics and a strong foundation paving the way for scalable growth. Gate Capital’s continuous commitment to ESG-led businesses is a testament to identifying impact investment opportunities.”
In a very interesting tweet on the X platform, RAK DAO ( Ras Al Khaimah’s Digital Asset Oasis) free zone welcomed the founder and creator of the Ethereum Blockchain, Vitalik Buterin.
In the tweet, RAK DAO states,” At RAK DAO, our fundamental belief in the transformative power of community has played a pivotal role in shaping our ecosystem. Our commitment to fostering innovation through collaboration recently materialized in a significant event, graced by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, alongside Vitalik Buterin, the Co-Founder of Ethereum, here in Ras Al Khaimah. This gathering reaffirmed our ongoing dedication to providing a platform where innovative ideas flourish, collaborations thrive, and the spirit of progress prevails. “
In February 2023, the Government of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) announced that it would be launching the RAK Digital Assets Oasis free zone dedicated to digital and virtual asset companies for non-regulated entities.
This meant that the UAE would now have two crypto Blockchain Oases, one in DMCC for regulated blockchain and crypto entities and one in RAK for soft regulated entities. As per the announcement RAK DAO was supposed to launch in Q2 of 2023, but its official launch happened in October 2023.
Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO), marked the inception of a new era in digital evolution and Web3 collaboration within Ras Al Khaimah. Businesses dealing with digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, could operate under fewer regulatory restrictions.RAK Digital Assets Oasis, is the first common law and specialized free zone exclusively dedicated to companies involved in digital and virtual assets.
Since then, RAK DAO has been setting up partnerships as it entices blockchain, Web3, metaverse, and crypto companies to set up base in the Oasis. It partnered with The HBAR Foundation having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with them. According to the MOU, The HBAR Foundation would support RAK DAO ecosystem members to leverage the power of blockchain and build economies and applications on Hedera, the most used enterprise-grade public network.
In an interview with Bloomberg News, Trust Wallet, self-custody crypto wallet, majority owned by the former CEO of Binance announced its operations in the UAE both in RAKDAO (Digital assets Oasis) free zone in Ras Al Khaimah and in ADGM in Abu Dhabi.
Vitalik’s visit comes after he released Ethereum’s roadmap for 2024 which will focus on scalability, security and sustainability improvements.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced the plan on social media on Dec. 31, outlining several key initiatives for the platform’s development. ‘The Surge,’ a crucial component of Ethereum’s roadmap, aims to increase network scalability through data sharding. By dividing the blockchain into smaller parts, Ethereum intends to boost its transaction processing capabilities and reduce costs, addressing one of the most pressing issues faced by blockchain technologies today.
This development is expected to bring Ethereum closer to achieving its goal of processing over 100,000 transactions per second, as noted by Buterin in recent statements
Could this visit be another partnership in the making? Is the Ethereum founder finally interested in the UAE and Middle East?
UAE Zayed University researchers have published a new research report under the title, “Investigating the Failure of the Blockchain Technology and Suggested Recommendations”, recommending the consensus algorithm underlying the Hedera network, hashgraph, as the best Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to utilize.
Ala’ Al Hilal a Professor at UAE Al Zayed University, and his colleagues undertook a comprehensive investigation of the strengths and shortcomings of blockchain technology, while showcasing DLT as an alternative that can offer more viable solutions than blockchain to both public and private.
As per the research, one of those promising alternative DLT platforms is hashgraph. Unlike traditional blockchain platforms, which use a chain of blocks to record transactions and rely on miners to validate those transactions, hashgraph uses a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) to record transactions and relies on a consensus algorithm to validate them. A thorough comparative analysis was conducted between these two technologies to determine which would emerge as the dominant technology in the market. The research found that the primary distinction between Hashgraph’s DLT and traditional blockchain technology is in their approach and structure. While blockchains store data in blocks linearly, hashgraph uses a directed acyclic graph to store and process information. Both DLTs are decentralized, with each node having a copy of the ledger and sharing any changes.
The research report compares speed, efficiency, fairness, and awareness between traditional blockchain platforms and DLT solutions. In terms of speed, it was found that hashgraph can process approximately 500,000 transactions per second by utilizing the Gossip method. On the other hand, some blockchain networks can only achieve a maximum speed of around 10,000 transactions per second. As such, hashgraph is faster than blockchain as it requires less information to be disseminated across the network as more events occur.
When it comes to efficiency on blockchain networks, users may encounter difficulties when working on a block, particularly when two blocks are submitted simultaneously. In such cases, one of the blocks must be discarded, which can lead to a less efficient network. In contrast, hashgraph does not require block creation and instead relies solely on events, making it a more efficient option.
Regarding fairness, researchers found that on a blockchain, users can select which orders they want to process or halt. This can lead to a lack of fairness for those who are using the network or who are connected to it in any way. Conversely, hashgraph approaches fairness differently. It randomly allocates nodes and uses consensus time stamping to prevent interference and enhance the effectiveness of transaction ordering.
Ala’ Abu Hilal stated, “The primary motivation behind my research was to explore decentralized technologies and their potential applications for enhancing the security and scalability of decentralized applications. Thus, I chose Hashgraph specifically for its unique consensus mechanism, high throughput capabilities, and notable features.” He adds, “As for future research, I do indeed plan to delve deeper into the applications and implications of hashgraph technology, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of its capabilities and potential impact.”
The research paper assesses that “Hashgraph has the potential to supplant traditional blockchain platforms as the leading technology. We anticipate that hashgraph will achieve widespread success and popularity without necessarily replacing existing technologies due to its patented algorithm, superior scalability, and faster consensus mechanism; hashgraph has the potential to overcome many of the shortcomings of blockchain.”
Kamal Al Youssefi, commenting on the Zayed University research report, stated, “This research report backs up what we know to be true about the advantages of Hedera’s DLT. The Hashgraph Association’s work in the MENA region to support startups, government, and enterprise projects both in terms of funding as well as technology and business advisory services will help increase adoption of hashgraph. As concluded by the researchers, we are firm in our belief of the power of hashgraph technology to offer an impactful substitute to blockchain.”
UAE based Klipit a blockchain digital transaction solutions provider has launched a blockchain paperless receipt application to be utilized by the retail and service sector.
As per the press release, the solution aims to redefine commerce with its efficient, eco-friendly approach to transaction management especially since 76% of GCC consumers prefer digital receipts.
Klipit is set to transform retail commerce by introducing a digital receipts system that promises enhanced efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. Today more than 95% of paper receipts are discarded within days. Kilpit’s digital platform intends to streamline the customer experience and transaction management.
“klipit is more than a response to the market’s call for digital transformation; we’re delivering a comprehensive solution to lead it,” says Mr. Venkat Reddy, CEO of klipit. “In the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, we’re proud to align with the nation’s vision by crafting a platform that combines efficiency with a commitment to sustainability. klipit doesn’t simply change how transactions are recorded; we’re elevating them into opportunities for enhanced customer engagement, growth, and eco-friendly leadership.”
Businesses and consumers can explore its digital receipts vault, a versatile solution aimed at bridging the gap towards achieving comprehensive, eco-friendly goals for a sustainable future.
Designed as a retail application to revolutionize the retail experience through a suite of comprehensive features, the app provides Secure Digital Receipt Management, effectively streamlining the storage and access of receipts, thereby enhancing organizational efficiency. A critical aspect of klipit is its robust Data Security, utilizing blockchain technology to ensure unparalleled protection of transactional data. This is complemented by Business Analytics functionality, which offers valuable insights to help businesses optimize their operations and make data-driven decisions.
Additionally, the app boasts a User-friendly Interface, meticulously crafted to simplify transaction processes for both customers and businesses.
In 2023 and earlier this year in January, the UAE licensed in total 13 crypto exchanges and crypto brokers. This came at the backdrop of a more robust virtual asset regulatory ecosystem both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as a heightened awareness and interest in investing in crypto tokens, virtual assets, and digital assets.
The most important question to many who are either already investing and trading in crypto or who are just getting started is which crypto exchange or broker can serve me best. The article will look into each crypto exchange and compare them to offer a more transparent mirror of the licensed and regulated crypto exchanges in the UAE.
OKX:
Starting with OKX is mainly because it is the first global exchange to receive a virtual asset license to operate their crypto exchange in the UAE. OKX received the license in January 2024, yet is still not fully operational as it finalizes certain requirements requested by Dubai’s virtual asset regulatory authority VARA.
However when it does start, it will offer more than 350 crypto tokens. So other than the basic offering of trading tokens or trade pairs on the spot, margin and derivatives markets, it also offers managing of DeFi portfolios, buying and selling NFTs, earn crypto in our mining pools, and take out crypto collateralized loans.
But wait all these products are not available to UAE retail and institutional clients. So far, OKX’s approved suite of duly regulated virtual assets activities includes spot services and spot-pairs, via the OKX App and OKX.com exchange.
The UAE VASP License also allows OKX to offer AED deposits and withdrawals.
OKX also announced that it has developed its Arabic website to meet the needs of users in the MENA region.
Finally OKX is active on all social media platforms so engaging with the community is available through many channels.
The crypto exchange boasts of over 50 million users in more than 100 countries. It is currently seeking a license in Hong Kong.
CoinMENA
Next in line is homegrown Crypto broker CoinMENA, which is not only now licensed in the UAE but was also one of the first to be licensed in Bahrain. CoinMENA offers the major cryptocurrencies on its platform, 52 in total.
It is fully operational and is authorized to serve Institutional Investors, qualified Investors and retail Investors. It offers spot trading of crypto assets.
CoinMENA already is fully operational and has been serving customers in the GCC and MENA region through its Bahrain licensed entity.
In addition customers can deposit money directly via bank transfer or credit/debit card to a customer’s CoinMENA Wallet, as well as withdraw money from CoinMENA Wallet directly to a client’s bank account.
CoinMENA currently serves over 900,000 users supporting seven countries.
Recently CoinMENA expanded its family office, investor and institutional offering through a partnership with Onramp Bitcoin. Onramp is an international Bitcoin asset management company built on multi institutional custody.
Crypto Exchange
Regulatory Status
Presence in
OKX
Crypto Exchange
HongKong UAE
Fasset
crypto broker
UAE
CoinMENA
crypto broker
UAE Bahrain
GCEX
Institutional crypto Exchange
UAE Denmark UK
FUZE
Crypto broker
UAE
BackPack Exchange
crypto exchange
UAE
Toko
Crrypto exchange/broker
UAE
Laser Digital
Crypto Broker
UAE
RAIN
Crypto broker
UAE Bahrain
M2
Crypto exchange
UAE
Glomex
Institutional crypto exchange
UAE
Matrix
Institutional crypto exchange
UAE
Midchains
Institutional crypto exchange
UAE
Venomex
Institutional crypto Exchange
UAE
M2
M2 is a UAE Abu Dhabi Homegrown crypto exchange. It received its license back in November 2023 from ADGM. It was recognized as a fully regulated Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) and Custodian and is now able to on-board UAE residents and institutional clients.
M2 offers spot trading and currently has 50 crypto tokens to choose from.
It will also be able to offer AED Fiat On/Off-Ramp: Allow the on/off ramp of AED with ease through its partnership with a local bank in the near future.
One of the strengths of M2 is that it is backed by strong investors, one of which is a Bitcoin mining conglomerate, Phoenix Group that helps M2 to offer its Bitcoin Earn Product. The product was launched in partnership with Phoenix crypto mining group and offers yields that reach up to 10.5%.
M2 has an equity investment of $300 million as well.
RAIN
RAIN crypto broker and exchange was the first crypto broker to receive a license in the MENA region. Its operations started in Bahrain and it is now licensed in the UAE through ADGM in Abu Dhabi.
On the landing page of RAIN the first thing a user sees is the 0% trading fee. RAIN offers 70 crypto tokens to trade with. RAIN also offers crypto swaps.
It also is able to offer AED Fiat On/Off-Ramp: Allow the on/off ramp of AED with ease through its partnership with UAE local banks.
Like most of the major exchanges it has a mobile application, and is present on most social media channels.
Fasset
In November 2023, Fasset received its crypto broker license from Dubai’s regulator VARA. This license follows Fasset’s launch in Indonesia in August, where it partnered with Mastercard Indonesia and telco giant Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.
Fasset offers five crypto tokens to trade with.
On its website, unlike other crypto exchanges, Fasset states that it offers gold investments using blockchain technology, crypto staking and other products. How much of this they can offer with their license in VARA is not clear. But it would be a surprise if they could offer these with their current license.
Crypto Exchange
Maker Fee
Taker Fee
Currencies
Minimum deposit USD
Trade Limits
OKX
0.08%
0.10%
320
10
100,000 USDT
Fasset
0.10%
1.00%
5
35
1000
CoinMENA
0.75%
0.75%
52
10
No limits
GCEX
No
No
50
50,000
No Limits
FUZE
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
BackPack Exchange
0.085%
0.095%
NA
NA
NA
Toko
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Laser Digital
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
RAIN
0.15%
0.30%
70
20
No Limits
M2
0.02%
0.04%
30
50
NA
Glomex
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Matrix
0.10%
0.20%
7
50,000
No Limits
Midchains
0%
0.40%
17
NA
No limits
Venomex
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA means not available on their website or other sources of information.
Other crypto exchanges
As for the rest of the crypto exchanges and brokers that serve retail and institutional clients and are licensed in UAE, they are Fuze, BackPack exchange, Toko and Laser Digital. These four were licensed by Dubai’s virtual asset authority, but have yet to populate their websites with clear information on their product offering, fees and other information.
Fuze is preparing to launch and its CEO refrained from sharing information until they do.
As for purely institutional investors they can work with the following crypto exchanges who only deal with institutional customers. These are GCEX where the minimum deposit is $50,000 offering 50 tokens.
According to GCEX Managing Director, Mehtap Onder, the exchange doesn’t charge its clients maker and taker fees but just a trading fee.
Then there is Matrix, who also has a minimum deposit of $50,000 but offers just 7 crypto tokens to trade and invest in.
Interestingly Venomex has no information on its fees and offering, and just states on its website, that it will communicate its fees and charges via a notice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the UAE definitely now has an array of crypto exchanges and crypto brokers that can offer safe and secure means to trade and invest in crypto tokens. It is left up to customers to choose which one they feel more comfortable with, which one offers competitive fees and which ones offer the crypto assets they want to trade.
Users can choose between local, regional and global exchanges to work with. But the future will bring even more. As VARA recently announced, while the regulator awarded 19 regulated VASP licenses in 2023, with 11 already operational, it will be adding 72 more in the coming months.
This could mean that Binance will soon have a license to operate in UAE, as will ByBit, and Crypto.com among others.
As more crypto exchanges enter the UAE as regulated entities, competition will surely increase and this is always a good thing for clients and users, so be prepared.
VAP Group, a leader in Web3 & Crypto Innovation, announced it will be hosting the biggest blockchain event in the heart of Dubai at Grand Hyatt Dubai from 16-17 April 2024, the Global Blockchain Show.
The Global Blockchain show will welcome more than 7000 attendees, 300 speakers, 120 sponsors, and 3000 firms who will unite from different regions of the world to network, learn, experience leadership sessions, and showcase their projects and products with a common goal of promoting blockchain and web3 industry.
Among the attendees and speakers, the Global Blockchain Show Dubai will have C-level executives, managers, consultants, corporates, investors, and even governments who will stand to gain valuable insights from this blockchain event and participate in networking opportunities to build collaborations and partnerships.
VAP Group has been leading the AI and Blockchain consulting domain for more than a decade now and is committed to promoting blockchain innovation among young entrepreneurs and crypto enthusiasts. The organization has strategically chosen Dubai for the GlobalBlockchainShow2024 as the city boasts a futuristic and innovative atmosphere with government support for the decentralized economy and a global blockchain hub that provides access to professionals and experts in this field.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from an esteemed lineup of industry leaders. Lennix Lai, the Chief Commercial Officer of OKX, brings over 15 years of crypto and financial expertise, leading OKX’s evolution into a DeFi and NFT powerhouse. Additionally, speakers like Alex Fazel of SwissBorg, David Palmer from Vodafone, will offer their insights on the transformative potential of blockchain across various sectors.
Vishal Parmar, the CEO of VAP Group, said, “At the Global Blockchain Show in Dubai, we’re shaping the future of Blockchain and Web3. Beyond gathering diverse insights, we’re uniting to drive industry transformation and shape tomorrow’s possibilities.”
There will be engaging networking opportunities and panel discussions on Blockchain advancements and production cases.
Among other Blockchain events, the Global Blockchain Show wins the race with its unique networking opportunities. While most events keep this session for the end of the show, the Global Blockchain Show will have networking sessions throughout the event starting from day one.
Global Blockchain Show Dubai is all set to be a powerhouse to craft engaging digital experiences and captivate global audiences where young entrepreneurs and investors can become trendsetters in their journey through the billion-dollar blockchain and crypto industry, which has recently become popular on exponential levels.
The event will also hold an exclusive after-party on the hottest beachfront of White Beach, Dubai, which features ultra-luxurious cabanas, restaurants, and infinity pools. Even during the after-party, attendees can build collaborations and partnerships with blockchain professionals and organizations to catapult development, drive growth, and create employment opportunities.
Secure your place today and become part of a global movement shaping the future of blockchain innovation. To book tickets: https://www.globalblockchainshow.com/tickets/
