MENA crypto broker CoinMENA enhances liquidity for its platform

MENA crypto broker CoinMENA enhances liquidity for its platform

CoinMENA B.S.C., a leading crypto asset platform licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and sister company CoinMENA FZE, licensed by the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), have partnered with Zodia Markets, a UK headquartered digital asset trading business, backed by Standard Chartered enhancing its liquidity on its platform.

The partnership will provide CoinMENA users with enhanced liquidity and reduced slippage on high-volume trades for G10 and GCC currencies vs a list of vetted and well-researched stablecoins and crypto assets.

Zodia Markets is renowned for its industry-leading trading and operational infrastructure, ensuring timely and efficient settlement. The business operates as a digital asset brokerage for institutional clients, offering a seamless avenue for fiat versus digital asset transactions across multiple currencies.

CoinMENA is a crypto asset platform where retail and institutional investors can buy, sell, send, receive, and store digital assets safely.
The partnership merges the strengths of two pioneering institutions. CoinMENA’s extensive network of retail and institutional clients across the MENA region, combined with Zodia Markets’ industry-leading capability, establishes a reliable and trusted gateway to digital assets.
In a joint statement, CoinMENA co-founders Talal Tabbaa and Dina Sam’an stated, “This partnership comes at a perfect time because we are seeing a significant increase in interest from retail and institutional investors. With Zodia Markets we substantially enhanced our service offering and can provide investors with more efficient avenues for entering and exiting the digital assets market, with minimal transaction costs and efficient settlement.”


Ayad Butt, Head of Sales and Trading Africa and Middle East, Zodia Markets added “The AME region, particularly UAE and Bahrain, has evolved impressively over the last five years. Regulatory clarity, world-class infrastructure, access to capital, and a growing economy
have attracted the best minds and the most sophisticated capital for trading, investing, and innovating.”


Ayad emphasized, “The growth and increased adoption of digital assets in this ecosystem hinge on bridging traditional finance with digital assets. That’s precisely what the partnership between Zodia Markets and CoinMENA achieves. We’re excited by the efficiencies this partnership will create for trading in the region.”

Over the past months CoinMENA has been partnering with several major players to enhance its crypto offering across the MENA region. It partnered with Network International, Onramp Bitcoin

stc Bahrain partners with Avalanche Blockchain for Web3 growth in MENA

stc Bahrain partners with Avalanche Blockchain for Web3 growth in MENA

During the recent Token 2049 Dubai event, stc Bahrain, a telecom operator and digital enabler, partnered with Ava Labs to advance the progress of Web3 in the region. By launching an Avalanche Subnet as part of its Web3 Launchpad Program, stc Bahrain is striving to accelerate the adoption and expansion of blockchain across the Middle East.

Avalanche has been selected as the Qala’a Path Partner and Industry Ambassador. The Qala’a Path is named after a UNESCO heritage site, Qala’a al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort), emblem of strength and intercultural confluence. The partnership aims to build a foundation for Web3 in the region.

stc Bahrain is a subsidiary of stc group, with a brand valued at $13.9B. stc has a track record of innovation, highlighted by the initiatives of deploying the world’s largest undersea cable (linking Europe, Africa, and Asia) and the development of the region’s first integrated data center park, which covers 55,000 square meters.

Now, stc Bahrain will be using Avalanche to catalyze the region’s Web3 development.

To stc Bahrain, Avalanche stands out for its near-instant transaction finality, high throughput, and robust Subnet architecture allowing for the development of customized solutions. Subnet performance and flexibility will prove key to the sweeping initiative, as stc Bahrain’s launchpad aims to establish a regional ecosystem consisting of a range of dApps – all while maintaining high performance and security.

As an Avalanche builder, supporter, and official ambassador in MENA, stc Bahrain will spur the greater adoption of Web3 on Avalanche in the region. This will entail fostering innovation and driving community engagement via co-marketing, conferences, hackathons, and related efforts.

“We are excited to embark on this journey with Avalanche, leveraging their groundbreaking technology to elevate our Web3 infrastructure,” said Saad Odeh, Chief Wholesale Officer at stc Bahrain. “Deploying an Avalanche Subnet is a testament to our dedication to leading digital transformation and innovation in the region.”


“We are honored to align with stc Bahrain to expand Avalanche’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa,” said John Nahas, SVP of BD at Ava Labs. “Subnets have the performance and flexibility needed for stc Bahrain to cultivate a powerful Web3 ecosystem, and for the people of these regions to benefit from cutting-edge blockchain applications. This launch coincides with our larger plans for the MENA region which are upcoming.”

stc Bahrain has been forging partnerships with major Web3 and Blockchain entities with the most recent being DePin infrastructure provider Aleph Zero.

QCP Capital crypto trading firm opens office in UAE and partners with Further Ventures

QCP Capital crypto trading firm opens office in UAE and partners with Further Ventures

on the eve of Token2049 Dubai, QCP, a global digital asset trading firm and market maker with close to $60b in annual trading volumes
in 2023, and Further Ventures, a leading venture building and investment firm backed by Lunate and Mastercard, jointly announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding digital asset innovation.

Tapping into the immense growth potential in Abu Dhabi, QCP and Further Ventures are partnering to launch new financial and Derivatives product offerings combining QCP’s considerable experience in digital asset trading and Further Ventures’ licensed broker-dealer and custodial platforms. On the back of this partnership, QCP is expanding to Abu Dhabi with plans to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi Global Markets as its jurisdiction of choice.

As per the press release, more details will be announced at a later stage.


Melvin Deng, CEO, QCP shared that, “Increased institutional adoption in digital assets combined with exponential growth of traditional AUM present a compelling and untapped opportunity for QCP to expand in Abu Dhabi, supported by our partnership with Further Ventures. We greatly value Further Ventures’ deep expertise and passion to develop the ecosystem as we grow our industry leadership in institutional digital assets.”

This collaboration brings together QCP’s market-leading and deep institutional capabilities in digital asset trading with Further Ventures’ investment expertise and extensive portfolio such as Tungsten and Fuze.

This article was updated on April 18th at 12:05 +3GMT

BitLayer partners with Dubai Blockchain center for education and training

BitLayer partners with Dubai Blockchain center for education and training

Bitlayer the first Layer 2 solution offering Bitcoin-equivalent security and Turing completeness built on BitVM has partnered with Dubai Blockchain Center, at the heals of their participation in Dubai’s Token 2049.

As per the press release, Bitlayer aims to bring secure scalability to the Bitcoin ecosystem, promoting asset diversity and spurring innovation for a faster, safer, and more flexible user experience.

Bitlayer states, “This milestone marks a seminal collaboration between titans of the blockchain industry. As the Bitlayer team heads to Dubai for Token 2049, we’re honored to have partnered with an incredibly key company paving the way in blockchain.”

The partnership between Dubai Blockchain Center and Bitlayer seeks to provide a truly global hub for blockchain companies, focusing on providing blockchain education and training. The Bitlayer and Dubai Blockchain center are welcoming projects.

Recently Stc Bahrain, the Saudi Telecom subsidiary in Bahrain, announced it would be operating nodes on Core Chain Bitcoin Layer 1 blockchain. Stc Bahrain has partnered with Core Chain DAO as part of its Web3 launchpad initiative.

Tether partners with UAE based Fuze for digital assets

Tether partners with UAE based Fuze for digital assets

Tether, the global stablecoin and UAE based Fuze, a digital assets infrastructure provider with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Istanbul, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the terms of a collaboration on educational initiatives within the digital asset realm, with a particular focus on Turkey and the Middle East.

Through these cooperation efforts, Tether and Fuze aim to address various facets of education around crypto asset space, encompassing cross-border payment solutions, compliance, regulatory framework development, and education for local financial institutions.

In pursuit of these objectives, this collaboration will see the two companies undertaking a range of collaborative endeavors which include educational campaigns to promote the adoption of virtual assets such as Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Stablecoins like Tether (USDT) to facilitate cross-border payments. These initiatives will be strategically designed to highlight the efficiency and accessibility benefits of using digital assets in a compliant manner for businesses and individuals across Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Tether and Fuze will also analyze the development of programs and workshops aimed at enhancing awareness and understanding of digital assets and blockchain technology among local financial institutions and individuals in the aforementioned regions. These efforts will align with evolving regulatory requirements and standards to ensure compliance in the dynamic regulatory landscape. Joint strategies will be designed to promote educational initiatives and workshops, demonstrating a commitment to ethical and responsible educational practices.

Additionally, these strategies will prioritize educating merchants and businesses on the practical utility of digital assets like Bitcoin and Tether for everyday transactions, aiming to increase awareness and adoption of digital assets. The initiatives will also include the engagement of local and regional banks and financial institutions to educate them on the benefits of utilizing stablecoins and digital assets for their customers, empowering financial institutions with the knowledge and tools necessary to leverage digital assets effectively.

“As we team up with Fuze, we’re thrilled to be part of a movement that brings digital assets within reach of people across Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.  “Our collaboration isn’t just about technology; it’s about empowering individuals, businesses, and financial institutions to navigate the evolving landscape of finance with confidence and clarity.” 

Commenting further on the collaboration, Mo Ali Yusuf, Co-Founder and CEO of Fuze said, “We’re proud to team up with the Tether team who share our vision that digital assets will power the future of finance. By educating stakeholders at all levels, we can accelerate the digital assets landscape and ensure that everyone from institutions to end consumers benefit from the vast opportunities presented by well-managed, secure, and trusted digital assets.”

Fils and Cashin to redefine sustainable payments in KSA

Fils and Cashin to redefine sustainable payments in KSA

CASHIN Saudi Arabia, a POS and digital payments fintech provider and UAE based Fils, a blockchain enabled empowering climate-positive transactions, have partnered to empower CASHIN KSA’s extensive network of merchants across the kingdom, comprising a significant share of the market, to integrate Fils’s blockchain enabled enterprise-grade payments platform. Through this collaboration, merchants will gain the ability to accurately track their environmental impact, mitigate their carbon footprint with high-quality carbon credits, and transparently report their progress.

This partnership represents a significant milestone for Fils, which, following its successful ventures with other market leaders in the region, is now expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging CASHIN KSA’s extensive market reach and established presence, Fils is primed to accelerate its growth trajectory and advance its mission of embedding climate positivity into every transaction.

“Our collaboration with CASHIN KSA underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability in the financial sector and aligns perfectly with our mission to empower businesses to embed climate action into their operations,” said Nameer Khan, CEO of Fils. “Together, we are not only driving positive environmental change but also supporting the climate goals of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.”

According to Omar AlRammah, CEO of CASHIN KSA, this partnership exemplifies the company’s dedication to sustainability and innovation: “Our collaboration with Fils marks a significant step forward in our journey towards a more sustainable future. By integrating Fils’s cutting-edge technology into our payments infrastructure, we are advancing our commitment to environmental responsibility and paving the way for a greener financial ecosystem.”

Blockchain forces in Qatar and South Korea to spur Vision 2030

Blockchain forces in Qatar and South Korea to spur Vision 2030

The homegrown Qatar Blockchain startup, Genesis Technologies has partnered with South Korean Blockchain company CP Labs.

Genesis Technologies and CPLabs are set to play a role in realizing Qatar’s Vision 2030 for a digital economy. The collaboration aims to deliver unparalleled security and resilience against cyber threats, underscoring the importance of robust blockchain solutions in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Doha, Richard Yun, the head of the business division at CPLabs, highlighted the company’s extensive experience and leadership in the blockchain domain. Yun stated, “As Korea’s first blockchain technology company, CPLabs has been at the forefront of commercializing blockchain based on the experience and expertise accumulated since the early days of blockchain technology in 2013. Furthermore, we aim to drive future changes in digital assets, which are essential elements of digital transformation, through blockchain technology. With 327 blockchain-related patents held worldwide, we have established ourselves as a complete IT solutions provider and are growing into a successful provider of solutions for government and institutional blockchain adoption.”

Yun further emphasized CPLabs’ commitment to navigating the challenges of the GCC market stating, “The GCC market presents another challenge for CPLabs. Being the only local blockchain company in Qatar, our partnership agreement with Genesis Technology, a startup at QU, holds great promise for both parties to enter the local government agencies and markets jointly. We got attracted to collaborate with Genesis Technologies because they share an innovative mindset as we do. Furthermore, we are committed to providing unlimited support and playing a leading role in contributing to the development of blockchain technology in Qatar.”

Mazen Al-Masri, the CEO of Genesis Technologies, echoed similar sentiments, expressing excitement about joining forces with CPLabs. “We are thrilled to collaborate with a well-established and innovative company like CPLabs that is a pioneer in the world of blockchain. Both companies share a similar vision to enable the digital transformation of business, government, and society, leading to a more secure, intelligent, and high-performing world. We will join efforts to produce best-of-breed solutions that respect local regulations and serve the local context effectively.”

This comes soon after Genesis Technologies unveiled two innovative software as a service offerings during their participation at the Web Summit in Qatar in February 2024.

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.

Stc Bahrain to offer Blockchain Web3 infrastructure services in Bahrain

Stc Bahrain to offer Blockchain Web3 infrastructure services in Bahrain

Stc Bahrain, the Saudi telecom subsidiary in Bahrain, announced that it will be offering Web3 infrastructure services using blockchain in partnership with LionsCraft for the Bahrain market. Lionscraft provides cutting-edge technology and business consulting in the thriving Web3 space.

This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating stc Bahrain’s telco capabilities into the blockchain industry facilitating the introduction of the most innovative products and services, and setting new benchmarks in regional digital evolution.

As per the release, the expansion is aimed at nurturing the advancement of the digital economy and improving the experience of internet users.

The signing ceremony was held in the metaverse in stc Bahrain tower while the agreement itself was deployed as an NFT ( Non Fungible token) on the Avalanche Blockchain.

. Additionally, the partnership agreement itself is deployed as an NFT (non-fungible token) on the Avalanche network. Within its metadata, there is hash linking to the signed contract, enabling users to authenticate the NFT’s origin and validity.

stc Bahrain chief wholesale officer Mr. Saad Odeh commented on the partnership, saying, “Web3 is progressively solidifying its form. While it may be perceived as another iteration of the internet, it represents a generational shift. stc BH will offer several Web3 infrastructure services, serving as a cornerstone to enable dynamic user experiences while ensuring greater data sovereignty and privacy to internet users. We are thrilled to contribute to establishing the groundwork for the future and spearheading the transformation of the digital experiences in MENA region.  We are committed to executing our mandate of empowering the next phase of digital transformation in alignment with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.”

Lionscraft CEO Dr. Adilah Hussien added, “Lionscraft is delighted to partner with stc Bahrain, harnessing our collective expertise to forge the path for Web3 innovations. This collaboration represents a shared vision for a decentralized future, where empowerment and user-centric design lead the digital narrative. Together, we are laying the foundational stones for an ecosystem that prioritizes trust, autonomy, and the seamless integration of blockchain technologies into everyday digital interactions.”

In December 2022, stc Bahrain became the first telecom operator in Bahrain to accept cryptocurrencies through its partnership with Eazy Financial Services, a leading Bahraini Payment Services provider specializing in POS and online payment gateway. In addition stc Bahrain collaborated with AlephZero, a layer 1 blockchain that allows the deployment of Web3 applications quickly, securely and at low cost for its Hackathon called CTRL+Hack+ZK.

UAE Fuze to tokenize gold with UK’s Minted Connect

UAE Fuze to tokenize gold with UK’s Minted Connect

In a recent press release, UAE based Fuze, digital assets infrastructure provider, has partnered with UK based Minted Connect; an FCA licensed and regulated API services platform to tokenize precious metals such as gold. Both entities will explore the tokenization of Real World Assets (RWA).

Minted Connect offers a cutting-edge API service that empowers businesses to seamlessly offer their customers access to buying, selling, transferring, and tokenizing 100% asset-backed precious metals.

Fuze is a VC-backed startup specializing in digital asset infrastructure, providing businesses in the MENA region with embedded experiences for their customers, facilitating access to innovative crypto and digital asset products through a regulatory-compliant infrastructure.

Fuze has already established partnerships with leading global and regional banks, fintech firms, financial institutions, and super apps.

The Middle East currently holds a substantial portion of the world’s above-ground gold reserves, with a staggering 1,174 tonnes securely held within the region. This represents not just wealth, but also a historical testament to the region’s deep-rooted affinity for precious metals.

Minted Connect and Fuze want to digitize of 1% of this gold, opening up unprecedented opportunities for individuals to easily save and invest in precious metals, making it accessible to all in a fractionized and digitized form.

Together, Minted Connect and Fuze are poised to transform the tokenization of Real World Assets, leveraging Minted Connect’s expertise in asset-backed precious metals and Fuze’s robust digital asset infrastructure.

This strategic partnership represents a pivotal moment for enabling businesses to tap into the value of real world assets through tokenization, providing new avenues for investment and financial inclusion.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Fuze,” said Shahid Munir, Co-Founder of Minted Connect. “This collaboration truly showcases our commitment to providing innovative and secure solutions for businesses seeking to offer asset-backed precious metals transactions to their customers. The path forward in this collaboration will be exciting for both entities, and will deliver a tangible impact on the industry.”

Commenting on the partnership, Mohammed Ali Yusuf (Mo Ali Yusuf), Co-Founder and CEO of Fuze said; “We are excited to sign this agreement with Minted Connect, who have already made significant innovations in the way people can trade precious metals. Integration with digital assets infrastructure is a game changer for businesses who want to roll out asset-backed, tokenized products to their customers in a secure and compliant manner.”

Others including Aurus believe that Precious metal owners can generate earnings on their gold and make it work for them just by holding it in tokenized form. UAE based Aurus Technologies, offered family offices the opportunity to tokenize real world assets through its sustainable tokenization as a service solution (TAAS) platform.

In 2022 UAE became the home for gold-backed token providers.