Bahrain headquartered Investcorp partners for fund tokenization with Securitize

Bahrain headquartered Investcorp partners for fund tokenization with Securitize

Bahrain headquartered, Investcorp, a leading alternative investment firm, and Securitize, a firm tokenizing real-world assets, have partnered to explore fund tokenization opportunities initially within Investcorp’s Strategic Capital Group (“ISCG”).

ISCG is focused on acquiring minority interests in alternative asset managers (GPs), particularly GPs who manage longer-duration private capital strategies. The group manages approximately $1.5 billion of AUM and has completed 12 investments since its launch in 2019, placing it among the most active GP stakes investors in the industry. ISCG has partnered with mid-sized GPs across buyout, secondaries, structured equity, private credit, and real asset strategies.

“This partnership with Securitize continues Investcorp’s strong legacy as an innovator in alternative investments,” said Anthony Maniscalco, Managing Partner, ISCG. “The use of tokenization technology has the potential to increase efficiencies for investors, and also provides for a new era of accessibility. Through this collaboration, Securitize is bringing access to the GP staking strategy for a wider range of investors.”

“In addition to partnering with Securitize in this breakthrough technology, we look forward to introducing our existing and future GP partners to this ecosystem as part of our broader GP development and value-add toolkit,” said Tim Osnabrug, Partner, ISCG.

According to Securitize, this partnership will enable qualified investors to access interests in GP staking strategy through Securitize’s innovative tokenization technology. In recent years, GP staking has become a highly sought-after strategy as investors seek to capitalize on the growth of private markets more broadly.

“We believe that Investcorp, as a global alternative investment manager, represents some of the most innovative thinking in the market,” said Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO, Securitize. “By tokenizing alternative assets, we are breaking down barriers and allowing individual investors to participate in opportunities that were previously out of reach. This partnership underscores our commitment to leveraging technology to unlock new financial possibilities.”

The tokenization of funds will be managed by Securitize’s digital transfer agent and offered through its digital asset management arm, Securitize Capital. The tokenized feeder fund will be available for investment on Securitize Markets, the firm’s broker-dealer platform. This partnership highlights the transformative power of blockchain technology in the financial sector, enabling fractional ownership and increased liquidity.

Zand Bank signs MOU with Mantra Blockchain for tokenization of RWAs

Zand Bank signs MOU with Mantra Blockchain for tokenization of RWAs

Zand Bank PJSC, the digital bank licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, and MANTRA, an RWA-focused Layer 1 blockchain, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to streamline the process of real-world asset tokenization, including the identification, listing and distribution of RWAs.

The collaboration between these two entities will also focus on developing frameworks to support tokenization and distribution of RWA, in compliance with the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority of Dubai (VARA). The frameworks aim to provide clear guidelines for the tokenization of RWAs, ensuring the process adheres to relevant compliance standards, investor protection measures, and regulatory requirements. In doing so, the collaboration seeks to foster trust, confidence, and widespread adoption of RWA tokenization across the UAE.

The agreement between Zand and MANTRA is a testament to both companies’ position at the vanguard of digital finance in the Middle East. The vision behind the collaboration aims to catapult both the custody and exchange of real world assets as a permanent fixture in the suite of retail banking services in the region, as well as to establish industry standards for tokenization,” stated John Patrick Mullin, CEO of MANTRA

“We are excited to leverage MANTRA’s blockchain, which is purpose-built for RWA to redefine the way we transact and manage ownership as well as transparency. This collaboration represents a step forward in our journey to amalgamate blockchain technology with our robust financial offerings to give our clients greater control over their investments, enhanced security, and more clarity into the lifecycle of their transactions. We aim to simplify operations, reinforce trust and authenticity in the assets’ legality, and broaden access to the wider market.” said Michael Chan, CEO of Zand.

Marvion implements AI Blockchain halal solution in UAE

Marvion implements AI Blockchain halal solution in UAE

USA based Marvion Inc., (OTC:MVNC), a blockchain technology firm has announced the application of its blockchain Halal projects within the UAE utilizing their Digital Ownership Token (DOT) technology framework. The Halal solution includes artificial intelligent modules (AI) to enhance the security framework of the solution.

As per the press release, this initiative marks a major milestone in Marvion’s commitment to utilizing its proprietary technology to create new intangible assets, beginning with Halal certification.

Marvion signed an agreement with a prominent Halal certification provider, marking the first step in its ambitious plan to revolutionize the certification process through blockchain technology. This partnership aims to enhance the transparency, efficiency, and security of Halal certifications, ensuring authenticity and trustworthiness in the market. Halal, which means “permissible” or “lawful” in Arabic, refers to a broad range of regulations that specify what foods Muslims are allowed to eat. These regulations cover not just ingredient lists but also production processes and handling techniques. Certification agencies in this industry evaluate and certify that food items, ingredients, and production processes meet Halal requirements.

“We are thrilled to be breaking new grounds with our blockchain Halal projects,” said Dr Edmond Chan, CEO of Marvion Inc. “Our collaboration with a leading Halal certification provider is just the beginning. By leveraging our cutting-edge blockchain technology, we aim to create a robust and secure system for Halal certification that can be extended to various sectors beyond food. During the past year we have proven and ground tested our blockchain DOT technologies in practical business usage and applications within the movie media industry.”

The introduction of blockchain technology into Halal certification processes is poised to bring numerous benefits, including:

  1. Enhanced Transparency: Blockchain’s immutable ledger ensures that all transactions and certifications are recorded transparently, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring the integrity of Halal certifications.
  2. Increased Efficiency: By automating certification processes and reducing the need for manual intervention, blockchain technology can significantly streamline operations, saving time and resources for certification bodies and businesses alike.
  3. Improved Security: Blockchain technology provides a highly secure platform for storing and verifying certification data, protecting it from tampering and unauthorized access. By adding artificial intelligent module into our security layer, it can highly prevent anyone trying to breach through our Halal certification, ensuring the highest level of genuine certification provided.

“According to Verified Market Reports, Halal Food Certification Market size was valued at USD 2,339.3 Billion in 2023, and is projected to reach USD 5284.98 Billion by 2030.

As we continue to make inroads in the UAE region, our focus remains on expanding our Halal certification capabilities to include a wider range of businesses,” added Dr Chan. “Our proprietary technology will serve as a foundation for creating new intangible assets, fostering innovation, and driving growth in the Halal market.”

UAE regulated Laser Digital invests in tokenization with Mantra blockchain

UAE regulated Laser Digital invests in tokenization with Mantra blockchain

UAE regulated Laser Digital, Nomura’s digital asset subsidiary has strategically invested in MANTRA Chain, a Layer 1 blockchain solution for Real World Assets (RWA).

In March 2024 MANTRA Chain raised $11 million led by UAE based Shorooq Partners with investors including Three-point capital, Forte Securities, VirtuZone, Hex Trust and GameFi Ventures. At the time it was noted that Mantra Chain was in the final stages of receiving licenses from Dubai’s crypto regulator, VARA.

As per the press release, “This new investment aims to accelerate MANTRA towards its goal of becoming the de-facto RWA tokenization Layer 1 blockchain for Middle East and Asian markets and marks a collaboration with Laser Digital, bringing their complementary expertise and pertinent experience of RWA tokenization to the partnership.”

Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, stated, ” We are excited to support MANTRA’s journey as it pioneers new frontiers in RWA and digital finance.”


John Patrick Mullin, CEO and Co-Founder of MANTRA, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, “We are incredibly excited to welcome Laser Digital as a strategic partner. Laser Digital’s investment is not just financial but an endorsement of our mission to make RWA accessible and operable through blockchain technology. Laser’s expertise and network in the financial sectors will be invaluable as we expand our technological footprint.”

Unicorn Hunters partners with Qatar financial center for tech entrepreneurs

Unicorn Hunters partners with Qatar financial center for tech entrepreneurs

Unicorn Hunters, ta reality business series offering entrepreneurs a global platform to connect with millions of investors worldwide, has partnered with the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) as it works to advance the nation as a world-class onshore financial and business hub.
This exciting new collaboration stands to further Qatar’s efforts to attract technology entrepreneurs which include Blockchain/DLT/tokenization innovators to the region, while simultaneously developing new partnerships and funding avenues for the Unicorn Hunters series, to the benefit of investor-fans, and featured entrepreneurs alike.

As part of the agreement, Unicorn Hunters and the QFCA will work together to position Qatar as a leading global innovation hub, connecting the country with innovators and entrepreneurs from both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The partnership will also support the deployment of the Unicorn Hunters show in Qatar, integrating the series into the country’s innovation ecosystem and facilitating access to funding.

As part of a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at a special Signing Ceremony on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum 2024, Unicorn Hunters and the QFCA will additionally work to promote and facilitate opportunities for entrepreneurs to establish operations in Qatar, with incentives available for a ‘soft-landing’ process and ensuring greater ease of doing business. High-growth startups may further be selected to be showcased on Unicorn Hunters, with the partnership also fostering collaboration on blockchain and financial technologies to ultimately democratize financial access to funding.

“Qatar’s commitment to technological prowess and ease of business start up and market integration, for example, to streamline the process of opening a new company in-country, makes this a perfect partnership,” stated Silvina Moschini, CEO of Unicorn Hunters and founder of the Unicoin, the official token of Unicorn Hunters. “At the same time, we are looking for future $1 billion ‘Unicorn’ companies to support and invest in Qatar, a nation striving to create an open and inviting economic environment for entrepreneurs from all walks of life who want to be the next Unicorn.”

As part of Qatar’s National Vision for 2030, the country has committed itself to creating a dynamic and sustainable economy by reinvesting its significant energy wealth into various other industries. The QFCA’s robust legal and regulatory frameworks additionally offer emerging companies access to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

“This partnership reflects QFC’s ongoing efforts in supporting Qatari entrepreneurs and empowering local startups and SMEs by providing a conducive business environment and an advanced innovation ecosystem that helps them grow and expand,” said Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, QFC.

Viewed by millions globally, Unicorn Hunters supports emerging businesses by democratizing access to funding, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to raise expansion capital from viewers around the world. In turn, viewers have the chance to make entry-level investments in pre-IPO opportunities. In 2022, Unicorn Hunters launched the Unicoin cryptocurrency, backed by real-world assets and investments in companies featured on the program.

Unicorn Hunters can be streamed on UnicornHunters.com, YouTube, Linkedin Broadcast, Facebook Video, and Vimeo. The program may also be viewed on Claro Video, one of the largest streaming platforms in Latin America, on Ghana’s TV3 Network, and on in-flight entertainment systems aboard Tap Air Portugal, WestJet, and Etihad Airways, the flagship airline of the UAE, serving millions of passengers across the Middle East, Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Saudi tokenization startup to tokenize assets of ParisAline

Saudi tokenization startup to tokenize assets of ParisAline

ParisAline, a global leader in invisible orthodontic treatments, has partnered with Saudi Arabian tech startup, Tokenizerly. As per the press release the collaboration aims to revolutionize funding mechanisms in the healthcare sector through the use of advanced blockchain technologies.

Tokenizerly is a Saudi-based technology startup leading the way in innovative funding solutions using blockchain. Its platform offers comprehensive tools for asset tokenization, providing unprecedented advantages in terms of reach, efficiency, and transparency.

The agreement involves deploying Tokenizerly’s specialized tokenization technologies to enhance funding solutions across ParisAline and its associated group of promising medical companies. These include operations in hospitals, medical device manufacturing, medical tourism, as well as laboratories and educational institutions, operating on a global scale.

The Blockchain enabled Tokenizerly platform will allow ParisAline and its sister companies to raise capital efficiently by tokenizing their assets making the alternative investment in healthcare affordable, accessible, and tradable. This method offers a myriad of benefits which includes global Reach through access to a wider and more diversified investor base. It also offers efficiency & cost reduction, with quicker settlements and lower costs related to operations and intermediation.

In addition the platform provides simplified liquidity: and a secure and tamper-proof record of ownership that promotes integrity and availability to the public.

The CEO of ParisAline, Dr. Ahnaf Aljajah, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This collaboration with Tokenizerly marks a significant milestone in our journey to integrate more innovative and efficient funding solutions within the healthcare industry. By leveraging blockchain technology, we are setting new standards for investment and operational efficiency.”

Haiyan Alsaiyed, Founder and CEO of Tokenizerly, added, “We are thrilled to partner with ParisAline and its sister companies. This is a unique opportunity to bring our robust financial technology solutions to a sector that impacts lives globally. Our platform is designed to transform how companies secure funding and manage their assets.”

This agreement comes as the Saudi government works to support tech development in the Kingdom. Recently The Hashgraph Association (THA), the Swiss-based organization at the forefront of global Blockchain digital enablement, signed a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) to launch a “DeepTech Venture Studio” in Riyadh worth $250M USD over five years (2024-2028).

Digital assets on the table in MOU between Qatar Financial Authority and Hong Kong FSDC

Digital assets on the table in MOU between Qatar Financial Authority and Hong Kong FSDC

On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) signed an MoU with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) with the goal of deepening the collaboration across multiple financial services areas between Qatar and Hong Kong including digital assets.

The Hong Kong and Mainland China delegates to Qatar have had numerous group meetings and networking opportunities with the local Qatar stakeholders – QFC, QIA, QDB ( Qatar Development Bank), Invest Qatar, Qatar Foundation, QSTP, regulators, investors, family offices, channel partners in digital assets, fintech, wealth management, to deepen the collaboration and uncover concrete business opportunities.

This MoU signing is a follow-up from an earlier visit to Qatar by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, in 2023. Since then, Qatar leaders also visited Hong Kong during the Asian Financial Forum in early 2024.

King Leung, Global Head of Financial Services and Fintech, InvestHK told Qatar Pennisula media, that “Qatar can leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to its advantage. In Hong Kong, we have been experimenting lots of innovation such as tokenization and digital assets and would like to work more closely with Qatar.”

Sharing his perspectives on the intersection between fintech and AI, Global Head of Financial Services and Fintech Leung stated, “We are seeing the intersection of AI, big data, blockchain, and cloud. A lot of the financial institutions are now using fintech, which with that AI capability can help streamline a lot of the internal processes. We have seen a lot of AI innovation in the fintech space that are empowering the financial institutions to transform their operation, to raise their ability to service their clients.”

There have been regular follow-ups by both organizations, as well as InvestHK. We are committed to deepen our collaboration in key financial services areas – asset and wealth management, fintech, digital assets, and family offices.

The Undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Joseph Chan, the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), InvestHK, and Cyberport led a delegation of over 30 Hong Kong and Mainland China business leaders to Doha on May 5-6.

Highlighting some of the key sectors of interest for investors from Hong Kong, Leung added, “The senior officials have been making our stance very clear in terms of our positioning as a major green finance and green tech hub. We would love to work with investors around the world to promote these movements. It could be new energy, new materials, or any of the technology layers that can promote a better tracking of the green behaviour. We see quite a lot of green fintechs using different technologies and access to different data.”

PWC MENA report features Fils carbon credit tokenization use cases

PWC MENA report features Fils carbon credit tokenization use cases

 UAE based Fils, an enterprise-grade digital infrastructure provider enabling companies to embed sustainability and climate action into their business models, has featured in a new PWC Middle East report on Carbon credit tokenization: Pioneering a sustainable future. 

It has been estimated that the carbon credits market will expand to US$100 billion by 2030, by Morgan Stanley, a global leader in financial services. The PwC Middle East report examines the tokenization of carbon credits and how financial institutions can become game-changing players in leveraging this process to combat climate change.  

The report emphasizes the practical deployment of carbon credit tokenization- as demonstrated by Fils – showcasing how the fintech’s technology is being used by several of its banking clientele.

Since its launch ahead of COP28 last year, Fils has embedded digital tools to businesses across various sectors, enabling them to integrate climate initiatives into their workflows.

A case study featuring in the report reveals that their innovative software has enabled major fintechs, such as Magnati in the UAE and Geidea in the KSA, and banks such as Mashreq, to process payments that automatically offset carbon emissions, simplifying eco-friendly transactions and ensuring business transparency. Fils also uses advanced analytics for carbon emission calculations in corporate spending, offering a clear view of environmental impact. This approach exemplifies Fils’ efficient method to incorporate climate action into business models, contributing to a sustainable future in finance and positioning Fils as a foundational force in building a global community of sustainability-minded businesses.

“We are incredibly proud that Fils’ efforts and achievements in integrating climate action into business models have been recognized and used as a case study in this report.” said Nameer Khan, CEO of Fils. “Since our inception, we have been instrumental in assisting financial institutions to effectively incorporate climate action into their operations. This report not only showcases our technology through our real world case studies but also amplifies our reach, giving us a larger platform to inform others about what we do and expand into new regions. It’s a testament to our continued commitment to sustainability and the growing impact of our solutions on a global scale,” he added.

PwC Middle East’s report talks about the emergence of tokenization, its role in enhancing financial services, how tokenized carbon credits are creating game changing opportunities by building a more transparent, efficient and accessible market for carbon credits, in turn driving growth and therefore supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement to drop emissions by 45% by 2030.

Commenting on the report, Serena Sebastiani, Virtual Assets Consulting Leader at PwC Middle East said, “This report underscores the critical role of informed partnerships in advancing climate action.”

She added, “By merging insights from Fils’ application of technology with our strategic overview, the report aims to educate financial institutions about the benefits of tokenisation applied to carbon credits, driving a shift towards how the world of finance can play a big role in saving our planet, one token at a time. “

Fils has established strategic partnerships with significant financial institutions in the region, including Magnati in the UAE, Geidea in KSA, and Mashreq Bank, enabling millions of merchants worldwide to reduce their environmental impact. 

Built on the blockchain Bahrain’s first tokenized Sukuk platform awakens

Built on the blockchain Bahrain’s first tokenized Sukuk platform awakens

Built on Tezos blockchain, Bahrain based Real World Tokenization entity INABLR Middle East recently graduated from the Central Bank of Bahrain’s regulatory sandbox having piloted the first blockchain enabled fractional Sukuk Investment platform. Once INABLR receives its license in around six months, it will become the first global entity to offer fractionalized Sukuk (Islamic Bonds).

Speaking to Lara on the Block Anver Jalaldeen, Founder & Executive Chairman of INABLR, explained that after three years in the Central Bank of Bahrain’s regulatory sandbox he is proud of the accomplishment.

Jalaldeen who previously held the position of Senior Vice President Head of Investment Banking at Sharjah Islamic Bank, came up with the idea of democratizing Islamic Sukuks to allow not only those who held $1000 to invest but also those who had just a $100.

For INABLR and its team, the fractional tokenization of Sukuk aims to empower retail investors by providing them with opportunities to diversify their portfolios and participate in previously inaccessible markets.

Jalaldeen explains, “Once we get the license, which should be in six months, we will become the first entity in the world to offer fractionalized Sukuk. This means clients with even $100 will be able to participate in a Sukuk offering. We are democratizing this Islamic financial product so that retailers across the globe can be part of this.”

Being part of the regulatory sandbox and working the Central Bank allowed INABLR to prove that tokenization of Sukuk on blockchain was safe.

He says, “We worked on everything, KYC, AML, security, custody and other elements that are involved in the process we built a platform that is dedicated to compliance, transparency, and regulatory excellence.”

Tezos Blockchain provided INABLR with a grant. This does not mean that in the future INABLR cannot be built on other blockchain platforms.

Jalaldeen adds that Bahrain was the best location to carry out a real-world assets tokenization pilot as well as receive a license. He notes, “Bahrain has been at the forefront of digital assets and blockchain regulation, and we are very happy to have started our journey here. Bahrain offers a clear licensing for VASPs in terms of categories.”

He is interested in also setting up in Qatar and other GCC and MENA countries in the future. He explains, “We are looking to expand globally either by offering our solution as a B2B, B2C or white labelled solution.”

It is noteworthy that Qatar has shown strong interest in tokenization and the development of digital assets.

With a Sukuk market size of $10 billion in GCC, the tokenization of real-world assets and sukuks in particular will be a significant feat. Next could be the tokenization of real estate and maybe one day sovereign Sukuks.

For Jalaldeen “The CBB’s commitment to fostering innovation has been instrumental in our success. INABLR is not only focused on fractionalizing Sukuk but also aims to revolutionize access to a wide range of real-world assets that are traditionally available only to institutional investors.”

UAE, the future home of a yield bearing stablecoin

UAE, the future home of a yield bearing stablecoin

UAE based Medad Holding a leading conglomerate of diverse tech startups and Franklin Templeton (Templeton International, Inc.,)  a global investment management organization building blockchain tech solutions, have entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a new joint venture in the United Arab Emirates to develop a tokenized digital asset from the UAE that aims to combine the yield-bearing component of a money market fund security with the ease of use and portability of a stablecoin.

The new “yieldcoin” construct would offer investors superior use cases for cash and collateral payments and mark an innovative step forward in bringing together the traditional and new blockchain-based financial rails.

“Yieldcoins will combine the best of both worlds,” according to Mohammed Alshaiba Almazrouei, Chief Operating Officer, Medad Holding. “It provides the medium of exchange, unit of account, and ease of use of a stablecoin with a potential for growth by being linked to interest-bearing assets. As such, the yieldcoin project should address a gap that currently exists in the market.”

The yieldcoin project will be housed under a new Web3 entity being set up by Medad Holding. This new entity will further enhance Medad Holding’s reputation for working at the cutting edge of emerging and digital businesses, leveraging the reach and network it has established around the world.  

Infrastructure and servicing will be provided by Franklin Templeton via their BENJI tokenization suite – the same infrastructure that is currently used to administer Franklin Templeton’s U.S. Government OnChain Money Fund (FOBXX) – the only tokenized fund in the world where the official set of transaction records are maintained on public blockchains.

“We are excited to be partnering with Medad Holding in extending the use of the Benji infrastructure,” said Jenny Johnson, President & CEO, Franklin Templeton. “Medad Holding has been at the forefront of digitizing the banking system just as Franklin Templeton has been the foremost innovator in tokenizing real-world assets on public blockchain. We see yieldcoins as an important new offering that will become a mainstay over time in the operation of the global financial market infrastructure.”

Franklin Templeton Digital Assets (FTDA) has been active in the digital asset ecosystem since 2018, building blockchain-based technology solutions, developing a range of investment strategies, and running node validators. FTDA’s dedicated digital assets research team leverages fundamental “tokenomic” analysis, insights from an imbedded data science team, and deep industry connections to help inform product development and investment decisions.