UAE based Gulf Craft, a shipyard conglomerate which builds yachts and boats, has joined multiple array of governmental and private businesses in the UAE offering crypto payments using stablecoins. The company announced that it now offers fully regulated payment solution for yacht and leisure craft purchases, service and refit works using the services of Bahrain based company ARP Pay.

As per the press release, the crypto payment solution developed by ARP Pay converts stablecoins such as USDT and USDC into AED or USD. The recent pilot allowed part of a yacht price to be purchased and settled in cryptocurrency. This cut transaction costs while improving customer satisfaction.

“By integrating ARP Pay, Gulf Craft not only meets evolving client preferences but also strengthens the UAE’s reputation for forward-looking manufacturing and financial innovation,” says Mohammed Hussein Alshaali, Chairman, Gulf Craft. “The UAE was built on maritime trade and early adoption of new ideas. Embracing regulated digital payments is a natural next step.”

“Adding a crypto option future-proofs our customer experience,” notes Erwin Bamps, Group CEO, Gulf Craft. “We stay ahead of the curve by adopting technologies that shape tomorrow’s commerce and by tapping into the growing segment of crypto holders who prefer paying with digital assets. Whether a client is taking delivery of a Majesty or Nomad yacht or purchasing any boat or power catamaran across our Oryx or SilverCAT ranges, they can now transact through a channel that is fast, transparent and fully compliant.”

More and more entities within the UAE are moving towards allowing crypto payments, whether it is the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, the Abu Dhabi taxi service provider, gas stations, or even Dubai’s Finance Department all have either started or are getting ready to offer crypto payments.

Already UAE ranks top in the world for crypto adoption with 30% of its residents holding crypto. With increased utilization of crypto this number most likely will increase.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has become the first governmental judiciary entity in MENA to accept stablecoins as a form of digital payments for judicial and legal service fees. With Al Maryah Bank, known as Mbank, ADJD will be using the AED regulated stablecoin AE Coin as a payment means for court related transactions.

As per the press release, ADJD believes this is a milestone towards a fully integrated digital economy and sets the stage for a new era in digital government payments as part of a digitized government.

His Excellency Counsellor Yousef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, stated that the agreement forms part of the department’s broader development strategy and aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, Chairman of ADJD, to build a modern and innovative judicial system that embraces rapid digital transformation to ensure swift justice and enhance Abu Dhabi’s global competitiveness.

He added, “By diversifying smart payment options and embracing digital currency, we are supporting institutional cooperation and integrating the judicial and financial sectors through advanced technology.” He added that the department is keen on building strategic partnerships with leading banking institutions to maximise the use of digital capabilities and fintech innovations in support of ADJD’s vision for a progressive and responsive legal environment.

From the banking sector’s side, Omar Al Zaabi, Vice Chairman of Al Maryah Bank, commented: “By enabling judicial payments via AE Coin, we are not only streamlining access to government services but also setting a benchmark for how technology can serve the public good in a secure and future-ready manner.”

Mohammed Wassim Khayata, CEO of Al Maryah Bank, also explained, “It’s not merely a technological step; it’s about delivering advanced, secure financial experiences that reflect the UAE’s values and future vision.”

Ramez Rafiq, General Manager of IED Stablecoin, the firm behind AE Coin, believes that AE Coin was developed to be a secure, efficient, and regulatory-compliant digital payment solution tailored for the UAE. he noted, “Its adoption by such a prominent government entity marks a pivotal moment for us and the region’s evolving digital finance landscape.”

AE Coin has already been adopted by airlines, and taxi service providers in the UAE. Prior to this the Abu Dhabi transport Department and Municipalities under the Integrated Transport Center (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, Tawasul Transport, allowed passengers to use the AE Coin stablecoin. Additionally Air Arabia airline also started accepting the AED stablecoin, AE Coin, for payments such as flight booking. The airline is the first in MENA to offer a stablecoin based payment option. Users can book their flights using the AEC Wallet application developed by MBank.

Dubai Department of Finance (DOF) , the governmental entity responsible for budget and its execution also signed an MOU with UAE regulated Crypto.com to allow crypto payments for governmental fees.

This comes as the UAE Central Bank regulated AED stablecoins in the UAE, considering them as a legal form of payment.

Aqua 1, Web3-native fund which seems to have been created recently, and on its website does not state who its team is announced it invested $100 million into Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, as a means to participate in the governance of the DeFi platform. The partnership will seek to synergize USD1 infrastructure to ignite adoption across commercial payment gateways and treasury management systems.

As per the announcement, the commitment will help accelerate the creation of a blockchain powered financial ecosystem centered on blockchain, Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, and stablecoin integration.

The authors go on to noted, together, WLFI and Aqua 1 are building the definitive bridge between legacy systems and blockchain innovation, an institutional-grade marketplace delivering unparalleled access to traditional assets.

“We’re excited to work hand-in-hand with the team at Aqua 1,” said Zak Folkman, Co-Founder of World Liberty Financial. “Aligning with Aqua 1 validates our blueprint for global financial innovation, as we have a joint mission to bring digital assets to the masses and strengthen our nation’s standing as a champion and leader of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.”

“WLFI and Aqua 1 will jointly identify and nurture high-potential blockchain projects together,” stated Dave Lee, Founding Partner of Aqua 1. ( no LinkedIn profile available)“WLFI’s USD1 ecosystem and RWA pipeline embody the trillion-dollar structural pivot opportunity we seek to catalyze, where architects merge traditional capital markets with decentralized primitives to redefine global financial infrastructure.”

Beyond the U.S. market, Aqua 1’s global investment and compliance teams will assist WLFI in expanding across South America, Europe, Asia, and emerging markets to accelerate digital asset ecosystem development.

Strategically, WLFI also plans to support the launch of Aqua 1’s Aqua Fund, a UAE-domiciled investment fund developed in partnership with leading regional stakeholders. The fund will be dedicated to accelerating the Middle East’s digital economy transformation through advanced blockchain infrastructure, artificial intelligence integration, and global Web3 adoption.

Aqua Fund aims to serve as a gateway for capital, talent, and technology to converge, positioning the region at the forefront of the next digital wave. Aqua Fund intends to partner with a secondary trading venue within ADGM to list the fund and facilitate secondary market liquidity for investors.

Furthermore, both parties plan to jointly develop and incubate BlockRock (https://x.com/BlockRock_rwa), an institutional RWA tokenization platform, focused on digitizing and integrating premium traditional assets into the Web3 ecosystem.

This is not the first time a UAE entity engaged with World Liberty Financial when it was announced that MGX, an Abu Dhabi tech company invested $2 billion in Binance crypto exchange, using the USD1 stablecoin. Binance listed World Liberty Financial USD (USD1) and opened trading for the following spot trading pair USD1/USDT.

In an article this week on CNN Business Arabic, Bitget crypto exchange COO and Bitgo MENA regional Manager gave their views on how banks are entering the crypto space through stablecoins. This comes as the United States passed the Genius Act in the Senate, and now is going to the House with extra push from Trump himself.

The article notes that stablecoins have gained a steady ground within the banking sector as regulatory legislation advances in the United States and Europe. Several major banks have entered pilot tests or begun developing their own stablecoins.

According to CoinDesk data, the market capitalization of stablecoins hit an all-time high of $251.7 billion, up 22% so far this year, with Citi Group noting that stablecoin market will reach $3.7 trillion by 2030.

In the CNN article Vugar Usi Zade, COO of Bitget, the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency exchange, noted that this trend reflects the importance of stablecoins as an integral part of the financial landscape. He emphasized that the entry of banks does not mean the end of trading platforms. “We don’t just provide financial services; we are the financing tools of the future,” he said.

For his part, Nick Coombs, Regional Director of BitGO in MENA, sees collaboration as the future of the sector and a great opportunity for expansion. “Big banks are by nature slow and conservative. We provide them with the digital infrastructure they couldn’t build on their own,” he told CNN Business.


Bitgo, the custodian of the USD1 stablecoin, provides turnkey solutions for banks through its “Stablecoin-as-a-Service” service. It also offers technologies such as “Advanced Key Management,” which allows banks to issue their own currencies at lower costs and with ready-made infrastructure.

Vugar that the entrance of banks into the crypto domain, will lead to more control over custody services which could lead to more centralization. The absence of crypto self custody services means less privacy notes Vugar. Yet he sees the future as hybrid, between crypto exchanges, crypto custodian and banking sector.

Nick Coombs explains that crypto is being reshaped today to serve the very system it was born to oppose, but banks will still need to partner with specialized entities like BitGo to ensure security, compliance, and speed in developing new products. “Because of their cautious nature, banks will not service many emerging blockchains, as they will focus on Bitcoin, even though there are thousands of blockchains that need the services of companies like us,” he added.

Vugar adds, “What distinguishes us is speed, innovation, and our commitment to a culture of decentralization. We are not replicating the experience of banks, but rather reinventing it.” He said, “Stablecoins have changed the rules of the game in cross-border payments, and they offer tremendous advantages, given their speed and competitive cost of no more than 0.1%.” He predicted that this market will grow within five years, with stablecoin adoption increasing tenfold.

He predicted that we will soon witness initial public offerings (IPOs) for cryptocurrency exchanges, as they are technology companies. This will attract significant investments, allow them to grow, and possibly acquire small and medium-sized banks to offer banking products to a global audience.

The article notes that with the entrance of banks, will crypto be losing the reason for its creation, or will a new financial system emerge.

Deus X Pay, a licensed institutional stablecoin payment solutions provider, has partnered with UAE based Forté Aviation Consultants, a leading provider of bespoke global private jet charter solutions to offer cryptocurrency payment options in the form of stablecoins for its clients.

UAE Forté Aviation caters to a diverse range of needs from single flights to complex multi-leg journeys.

“Partnering with Deus X Pay allows us to elevate the customer experience by offering cryptocurrency payment options,” said Jeffrey Emmenis, Managing Partner & Chief Executive Officer. “In an industry defined by precision and exclusivity, this integration will ensure that our clients can book their travel effortlessly, reflecting our commitment to meticulous service.”

Richard Crook, CEO of Deus X Pay, emphasised the significance of this partnership, stating, “Our collaboration with Forté Aviation demonstrates a shared vision of simplifying payment processes in luxury travel. By leveraging our cryptocurrency payment solutions, we empower Forté’s clients with the flexibility and security they demand.”

The collaboration between Deus X Pay and Forté Aviation represents a significant advancement in the use of cryptocurrency in luxury aviation, setting new standards for innovation and customer experience while paving the way for exciting opportunities in the industry.

In May 2025, Crypto.com exchange, a regulated crypto exchange operating out of Dubai UAE, partnered with Emarat Energy Company to offer crypto payment options at select Emarat service stations. As per the LinkedIn post the expansion depends on regulatory approvals and customer demand.

Additionally UAE based ATS Travel, a premier travel management company, and Payhound, a Malta based regulated provider of fully regulated crypto payment solutions, also partnered to enable ATS Travel to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for all its services.

UAE based SaturnX, the infrastructure provider for stablecoin-based cross-border payments, closes a $3 million seed round. The round was led by White Star Capital, with participation from strategic institutional investors. The company enables businesses and financial institutions to move money globally through an API-first platform that leverages stablecoin liquidity, smart FX routing, and regulatory-compliant payout networks. SaturnX supports cross-border payments in major remittance corridors and is rapidly expanding into Southeast Asia and Africa

Founded by Mirnas Brescic, who brings 15 years of experience in FX, treasury, and digital assets across institutions like Rain, Bitpanda and the IAEA, SaturnX serves as a behind-the-scenes API layer for B2B money transmitters, corporates and financial platforms. In just five months of operation, the company has already processed over $250 million in transaction volume, while maintaining profitability.

The capital will be used to accelerate SaturnX’s expansion into new payment corridors in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, strengthen regulatory infrastructure, and continue building its end-to-end API platform for enterprise-grade stablecoin payments.

As per the press release, with more than $600 billion in global annual remittance flows and rising demand for digital dollars in emerging markets, SaturnX is positioned to become a critical backend provider for the future of borderless payments by modernizing how money moves across borders, offering instant, low-cost stablecoin transfers for financial institutions, fintechs, and global remittance providers.

“Our vision is to connect the worlds of decentralised and traditional finance with infrastructure that brings the benefits of stablecoins to everyday financial use cases,” said Mirnas Brescic, CEO and Founder of SaturnX. “Despite considerable progress, cross-border payments are still expensive and slow. By offering a faster, cheaper, and programmable alternative, we’re helping financial partners unlock better ways to move money, starting with the world’s largest remittance corridors.”

The company pre-funds stablecoin liquidity pools in key markets, aggregates FX pricing in real time, and ensures regulatory compliance via partnerships and licensing pathways. Its flagship corridor, from the Gulf region to South Asia, collectively enables hundreds of millions in annual volume.

“We’re excited to back SaturnX at the forefront of a new payment infrastructure layer,” said Sep Alavi, General Partner at White Star Capital. “They’re operating in one of the most strategically important corridors globally, solving a massive pain point for cross-border remittances and B2B payments. Mirnas brings unmatched experience in FX, treasury, and crypto, and he’s already shown his ability to execute at speed.”

Speaking to Lara on the Block on the upcoming Genius Act for stablecoins in the USA, Brescic noted, “Regulation will bring the clarity and confidence required for a broader stablecoin adoption. It is definitely a positive development in the medium to long-term. SaturnX is stablecoin agnostic. With the regulatory clarity we see even more corporates using stablecoins to send or receive value globally. This is the market segment we want to support with our infrastructure.”


UAE Regulated digital assets infrastructure provider, Fuze, has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oman based Mamun is a Sharia-compliant alternative finance and investment platform headquartered to enable regional and global retail and institutional investors to participate in short-term, sharia compliant financing of trade-driven businesses in USDT (Tether’s US dollar-pegged stablecoin).

As per the announcement, trade-driven businesses will then be able to receive fiat financing in local currency for supplier payments, local and cross-border trade. This will support businesses in accessing new forms of financing from a wider pool of investors.

The trade-credit gap in MENA stands at a staggering $250 billion, with that gap being over $1 trillion globally. SME businesses particularly feel the grunt of this problem, being underserved and underbanked by traditional financial institutions. Meanwhile, there are over 40 million crypto investors in MENA alone, with an estimated holding value of $300 billion, with very little access, if any, to small minimum, high-yielding, Sharia-compliant trade finance assets.

The partnership is one of the region’s first to bridge regulated digital asset infrastructure with traditional private credit markets. Under this collaboration, Fuze will provide the digital asset rails (on/off ramp, custody and conversion) while Mamun will originate Sharia-compliant trade finance opportunities. The agreement will enable quick and compliant settlement for SME trade financing and solve pain points around cross-border capital movement.

Mo Ali Yusuf, Fuze CEO said, “The alignment between Fuze and Mamun underscores a growing trend – the use of stablecoins like USDT not only for trading or remittance, but as a working capital and liquidity tool for real-world finance.”

Mohammed Al-Tamami, Mamun CCO said, “Bringing stablecoins into Sharia-compliant private credit allows us to open new pathways for cross-border trade finance. At Mamun, we’re not just innovating, we’re aligning digital asset infrastructure with real-economy capital needs. This collaboration with Fuze enables us to better serve investors and businesses alike.”

Galaxy recently led an investment round of $12 million into Fuze.

Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) CEO Yousuf Al Jaida made it clear during the Qatar Economic Forum hosted by Bloomberg, that while Qatar was big on digital assets in the realm of tokenization, it was a no no for crypto, but actually a yes for stablecoins.

In a panel discussion entitled MENA & Crypto: What Comes Next?, Al Jaida stated, ” While crypto is a no no ” and is often the first thing regulators and the public associate with digital assets, it is just one vertical, there are other types of digital assets which could be any type of value transferred over the blockchain including stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), security tokens, and utility tokens.”

The statement eludes to the fact that while Qatar Financial authority which offers an onshore legal environment where businesses can set up and are taxed with no physical boundaries, crypto might not be in play, but stablecoins which he mentioned are one of the digital assets that he sees could be part of the ecosystem.

Already Qatar has regulated DLT and Blockchain infrastructure, digital assets for tokenization including security tokens and utility tokens. It has even been working on its own CBDC, so with the inclusion of stablecoins as part of what Qatar calls digital assets, their regulation might not be that far away.

He emphasized that the focus is on building a robust, regulated framework to digitize real-world assets and unlock new economic opportunities, particularly in real estate and Islamic finance.

Al-Jaida explained that given Qatar Central Bank’s strict stance on crypto with bank trading being heavily regulated, QFC has taken a different route.“Our entire focus, resources, and investment have gone into tokenization. Tokenization solves a real problem in the economy. It democratizes access to illiquid real assets like real estate and private securities.”

With global tokenized assets expected to hit $30 trillion by 2030, including $15 trillion in illiquid assets and $1 trillion in security tokens, the CEO sees a clear opportunity.“This is where our regulations are focused. We launched our Digital Asset Regulations in 2024, along with the Investment Token Rulebook and security token guidelines. These allow us to license digital asset firms swiftly and efficiently within the QFC framework,” he said.

One key priority for QFC is unlocking liquidity in Qatar’s oversupplied real estate sector.“There’s a huge concentration of ownership in towers across West Bay and Lusail, often held by just a few landlords with ticket sizes of $500m and upwards,” said Al-Jaida. He mentioned that tokenizing even one or two towers could bring tremendous economic benefit and access.

However, to manage risk and ensure regulatory confidence, QFC is deploying a“laboratory” approach. Tokenizing private shares within its own corporate registry, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) or holding companies are then created to hold tokenized assets, beginning with real estate.

“This approach allows us to experiment within a controlled environment. If anything goes wrong, the risk is contained within the QFC – not the broader economy,” he stressed. QFC also sees potential in securitizing other asset classes, including Islamic financial products, corporate bonds, and eventually, energy infrastructure.“ We’re looking to use tokenization to drive inclusive access and financial innovation,” said Al-Jaida.

Why stablecoins and tokenization go hand in hand

At the same event, in a panel on ” Striking the Balance Crypto and Regulation”, stablecoins was also one of the topics of the hour. It was also noted that stablecoins would be needed for tokenized assets. Lucy Gazmararian, Founder & Managing Partner, Token Bay Capital, noted that stablecoins which are effectively fiat money essentially on blockchains is the final piece of the crypto puzzle because it completes the entire trading cycle.” She notes that as more real world assets are issued and traded on blockchain with players like BlackRock, Franklin Tempelton

She explained, ” As we see more real world tokenizing treasuries you need that cash leg of the trade to settle on blockchain transition to move finance onto blockchain. By putting USDT on chain you are driving new demand for collateral that backs those stablecoins.
Each USD is backed short term US treasury debt, because stablecoins getting into hands of new participants, non US people couldn’t get banks accounts in dollars, demand for US dollar.”

Anatoly Crachilov, CEO & Founding Partner, Nickel Digital Asset Management also noted that while traditional banking were overcharging clients, stablecoins do it for a fraction of a cent.

Usman Ahmed, Co-Founder and CEO of Zodia Markets believes that Tether will remain dominant because of the high adoption. He notes that stablecoin market capital is expected to increase from 230 billion USD in 2025 to over 2 trillion USD in 2028, a 10 fold increase in the next two years. He notes, ” I don’t see a bank stablecoin or government one coming in and overtaking Tether, but stablecoins will need to get into the banking system because why wait for dollar market to open, sometimes in seven hours, that is 7 hours of capital not being utilized.”

The Middle East Stablecoin Association launched in May has appointed Kristiina Lumeste, Founder and SEO of Klumi Ventures, a Web3 early stage venture capital firm, as Co-Chair of the Middle East Stablecoin Association – MESA.

As per the announcement, in her new role, Kristiina will lead the Technology, Innovation & Education Committee – a cornerstone of MESA’s mission to drive the responsible development of stablecoins through best-in-class frameworks across technical infrastructure, regulatory alignment, education, and ecosystem engagement.

Klumi post noted, “At Klumi Ventures, we firmly believe that stablecoins are reshaping the global financial infrastructure, offering unprecedented efficiency, transparency, and security for institutions, governments, and markets alike. We are deeply aligned with MESA’s vision to bridge the gap between innovation and compliance, enabling stablecoins to support the future of cross-border payments, tokenized asset settlement, and the digital economy.”

The Middle East Stablecoin Association participated in panel entitled Stablecoins in the UAE, Leading not Following, during TOKEN2049


Deus X Pay, a licensed institutional stablecoin payment solution in Lithuania, setting new standards across the luxury sectors, is now enabling crypto payments for property purchases at the new Trump Tower Dubai, the first Trump International Hotel to be built in the Middle East.

The new $1 billion Trump Tower Dubai, unveiled through partnership with London-listed Dar Global, marks a breakthrough in global luxury real estate. Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation and son of US President Donald Trump, has recently announced that Bitcoin and other digital currencies will be accepted for condo sales.

The Trump Tower Dubai, an 80-story architectural icon, offers the highest international standards for ultra-high-net-worth travellers and long-stay residents. The exclusive building boasts 2-3 bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom penthouses valued at over AED 73 million, the highest outdoor swimming pool in the world, and has views of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, said the Trump Tower Dubai is among the most ambitious Trump-branded residential towers globally, reflecting the project’s magnitude, stature, and symbolic significance in the region and internationally.

Trump previously told Gulf Business that Dubai is where luxury real estate and financial innovation intersect, and projects like Trump Tower Dubai are leading the way. By embracing technologies like stablecoins, buyers gain a faster, cheaper and more transparent way to secure exclusive, high-end properties while reshaping how luxury transactions are conducted.

As per the press release, Deus X Pay, a licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Lithuania, offers institutional stablecoin payment solutions, enabling luxury sectors such as real estate, aviation and yachting to capitalise on this new era of finance. Deus X Pay CEO, Richard Crook, highlights that Dubai has created an environment where stablecoins can flourish as a practical, secure tool for international transactions (with Crypto Watch reporting that crypto adoption in the UAE is expected to surge 210% in 2025), giving premium buyers faster, frictionless access to high-value assets.

“Dubai’s forward-thinking stance has unlocked a whole new economy, and the gold standard for transactions of high-value assets. International buyers seek faster settlements, fewer cross-border complications and seamless access to premium developments. This project is a defining moment — not just for Deus X Pay, but for the global real estate sector. We are thrilled to deliver the regulated rails that make it possible for premium property buyers to transact instantly, compliantly and without the traditional delays or friction.”

This announcement comes as the UAE governmental entity, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) has partnered with the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to link the real estate registry to property tokenization through an advanced governance system. The collaboration aims to enable the fractional ownership of real estate assets, allowing a broader base of investors, particularly small investors, to enter Dubai’s real estate market. This contributes to greater economic inclusion and enhances the sector’s appeal to global investments.