Bahrain based Singapore Gulf Bank to raise $50 million for stablecoin payment entity

Bahrain based Singapore Gulf Bank to raise $50 million for stablecoin payment entity

Singapore Gulf Bank, a subsidiary of Whampoa Group, with a license in Bahrain, is in talks with a Middle East sovereign wealth fund to raise $50 million to acquire a stablecoin payments company in 2025 either in the Middle East or Europe. The news was published in a Bloomberg article. SGB is backed by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and privately held Singapore-based investment firm Whampoa Group.

The startup bank, will sell an equity stake of less than 10% by early 2025 according to the Bloomberg article.

The proceeds will primarily go toward accelerating product development, enhancing the bank’s payment network and hiring more staff, the people said. The purchase of a stablecoin payments firm is planned for the first quarter in the Middle East or Europe, they said.

Recently, Gulf Bank (SGB) appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Ali AlShamma as chief financial officer and ex-Sygnum executive Elaine Leong as chief operating officer. These two hires reinforce the mission of SGB to provide frictionless interaction between digital and traditional finance, said the digital bank.

On launching in Bahrain Singapore Gulf Bank noted that it would provide a real-time settlement network, digital assets custody and intuitive trading solutions, all underpinned by robust AML/KYC measures. As per the announcement this would enable businesses to manage their finances flexibly, whether they are traditional or digital assets – facilitating their participation in the digital economy.

Stablecoin usage has been growing in the Middle East and across the globe. Chainalysis in its recent MENA report noted that stablecoins and altcoins making gains across MENA particularly in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Turkey is number one in the world in stablecoin trading volume as a percentage of GDP, by a large margin. It’s important to note this measure is not saying that nearly 4% of Turkish GDP is stablecoins, but that stablecoin trading volumes on CEXs are equal to 4% of GDP in dollar equivalent terms, meaning crypto trading volumes could one day exceed a country’s measure of GDP.

Stablecoins consistently represent the majority of crypto assets purchased with the Turkish Lira, approaching nearly $6 billion in purchases in March of this year. Stablecoin purchases with the Turkish Lira are closely correlated with inflation rates.

Most recently the UAE Central Bank announced its stablecoin regulations as well.

Bahrain Singapore Gulf Bank to offer digital asset custody services

Bahrain Singapore Gulf Bank to offer digital asset custody services

Operating under full regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain, Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) has launched in Bahrain to offer comprehensive digital banking services to corporate customers in the digital economy to manage their traditional financial and digital assets on a single platform.

Global clients can onboard through Singapore Gulf Bank’s remote digital on-boarding solutions. SGB will extend its digital banking services to individual clients by the end of the year.

In addition to regular corporate banking services, SGB will provide a real-time settlement network, digital assets custody and intuitive trading solutions, all underpinned by robust AML/KYC measures. As per the announcement this enables businesses to manage their finances flexibly, whether they are traditional or digital assets – facilitating their participation in the digital economy.

Edmund Lee, Founding Chairman of the Board of SGB, stated, “We’re building the foundation for a new era of global finance where traditional and digital worlds converge to enable businesses to operate anytime and anywhere.”

H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, “The launch of SGB marks a pivotal moment in deepening financial connectivity between MENA and Asian markets through Bahrain. As the digital economy continues to grow, our kingdom will serve as a gateway connecting Asian enterprises with opportunities across traditional and digital financial markets. SGB is a testament to Bahrain’s pro-innovation environment and our ability to attract and anchor ambitious global enterprises.”

H.E. Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, commented: “SGB’s launch demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to fostering innovation in financial services while upholding the highest regulatory standards. With SGB, Bahrain will serve as a crucial nexus that connects businesses around the world and bridges traditional and digital financial services.”

SGB is pioneering a new era of banking where everyone can easily access and manage digital assets alongside traditional assets within one integrated network. Underpinned by its compliance-first approach, SGB will serve as a vital link between mainstream financial services and the rapidly advancing digital asset economy, empowering the next billion users with access to the future of finance.

In early October SINGAPORE Gulf Bank (SGB) appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Ali AlShamma as chief financial officer and ex-Sygnum executive Elaine Leong as chief operating officer. These two hires reinforce the mission of SGB to provide frictionless interaction between digital and traditional finance, said the digital bank.