UAE regulated Laser Digital launches Bitcoin Adoption Fund

UAE regulated Laser Digital launches Bitcoin Adoption Fund

UAE regulated virtual asset broker dealer and investment management services, Laser Digital, a subsidiary of Nomura has launched their Bitcoin Adoption Fund.

The fund, which provides a seamless way for institutional investors to access the digital asset class, will be the first in a range of digital adoption investment solutions that Laser Digital Asset Management will bring to the market.

The Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption Fund, provides long-onlyexposure to Bitcoin whilst being one of the most cost effective and secure investment solutions.

To secure the fund’s assets, Laser will use Komainu, which was founded in 2018 by Nomura, Ledger and Coinshares and delivers a regulated custody solution for institutional digital asset investors. The Fund is a segregated portfolio part of Laser Digital Funds SPC, aSegregated Portfolio Company registered asa mutual fund pursuant to section 4(3) of the Mutual Funds Actwith CIMA (Cayman Islands Regulatory Authority).

On launching the fund, Sebastien Guglietta, Head of Laser Digital Asset Management commented: “Technology is a key driver of global economic growth and is transforming a large part of the economy from analogue to digital. Bitcoin is one of the enablers of thislong-lastingtransformational change andlong-termexposure to Bitcoin offers a solution to investors to capture this macro trend.”

Fiona King, Head of Distribution, Laser Digital Asset Management added: “We’re delighted to now launch our Bitcoin adoption fund, which allows institutional investors a secure path into digital asset investment that is backed by established finance, with the highest levels of risk management and compliance.”

Laser Digital was launchedby Nomura and was co-founded by Steven Ashley, who previously led Nomura’s wholesale division and Jez Mohideen, who was Nomura’s Chief Digital Officer andCo-Headof Global Markets EMEA. Headquartered in Switzerland, Laser Digital combines the rigor, best practices, and capabilities from global investment banking with the experience of a crypto-native team.

Canadian Blockchain fintech startup launches its Lab in Dubai UAE

Canadian Blockchain fintech startup launches its Lab in Dubai UAE

LFi, Canadian fintech tech startup, leveraging advance computing and blockchain has expanded into the UAE with a presence in Dubai under its new LFi Labs office. According to the news releases, the Lab will serve as a central hub for new advancements and innovations. 

As per their website, LFi is a decentralized platform designed to provide equal opportunities for wealth generation and financial independence through crypto. It operates on its own blockchain, guided by a DAO-driven ecosystem. 

The startup intends to fuse crypto, finance and technology to foster innovation and financial freedom. The tech startup seeks to provide a diverse range of products and services that give people greater access to tools and information for navigating the crypto and Web3 landscape.

According to the news, the establishment of the Labs locally in UAE gives the brand a strong foothold in one of the most progressive, influential, and technology-oriented economic hubs in the Middle East and North African region.

The company looks to collaborate with visionaries, tech enthusiasts, and creators from various backgrounds to realize revolutionary ideas that will shape the future.

The soft launch of LFi Labs event featured the LFi One smartphone, a smartphone that allows users to mint tokens and enter the crypto world seamlessly It also showcased 

xLFi Minters, and other innovative products, the immersive experience offered a taste of what the future holds for the brand.

With the official opening on the horizon, CEO Luiz Góes expressed excitement toward the prospect of fresh collaborative opportunities with experts and market participants within the region. The CEO added that the platform’s new venture in Dubai aims to attain a “brighter era” for global crypto.

It is noteworthy that while LFI is a tech startup and might not need a regulatory license, if it offers any crypto services like minting its token and using its token for utility purposes, it definately will need one. 

Taurus digital asset custodian to expand in UAE after investments and partnership with Deutsche bank

Taurus digital asset custodian to expand in UAE after investments and partnership with Deutsche bank

As Taurus, digital asset infrastructure provider, offer digital custody and tokenization services, partners with Deutsche Bank, it plans to expand into the UAE among other countries.

Founded in 2018, Taurus offers enterprise-grade digital asset infrastructure for the issuance, safeguarding, and trading of various digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, NFTs, and digital currencies. The company’s product portfolio includes Taurus-Protect, a secure storage solution used by over 25 financial institutions and corporations in Europe, and Taurus-Capital, which facilitates the issuance and management of NFTs and tokenized assets on public and private blockchains.

Deutsche Bank’s partnership with Taurus builds on the bank’s recent initiatives in the digital asset space. By leveraging Taurus’ technology, the bank aims to meet the evolving needs of its clients in the digital asset ecosystem.

Paul Maley, the global head of securities services at Deutsche Bank, emphasized the significance of adapting to the growing digital asset market. As the digital asset space is expected to encompass trillions of dollars of assets, custodians must provide the necessary support to investors and corporations.

This partnership follows Deutsche Bank’s previous investment in Taurus. The bank participated in Taurus’ $65 million Series B funding round earlier this year, alongside Credit Suisse, Pictet Group, and Arab Bank Switzerland. Taurus plans to utilize the funding to further develop its digital asset platform and expand globally, with new offices in Europe, the UAE, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.

IOTA Blockchain for internet of things launches headquarters in UAE

IOTA Blockchain for internet of things launches headquarters in UAE

IOTA, distributed ledger built for the “Internet of Everything” , has announced that it is establishing a foundation and another headquarter in Abu Dhabi UAE, as part of their commitment to developing a digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem in the UAE.  IOTA’s Tangle is an open, feeless and scalable distributed ledger, designed to support frictionless data and value transfer.

The IOTA foundation will  grow IOTA’s reach and importance around the globe. As per IOTA news release, the purpose of this entity is to become one of the primary organizations to foster the growth, adoption, and global expansion of IOTA.

IOTA states, “As we open up a new chapter with IOTA, we need to match technology with the right support to establish IOTA as a global ecosystem. We can only do this by operating out of the right environment. We are convinced that the UAE will offer IOTA the best environment to realize its global ambitions.”

IOTA considers the new entity in Abu Dhabi as an additional headquarter, to further decentralize the governance of IOTA.

The news adds that IOTA is to become one of the leading DLT ( distributed ledger technology) entities in the UAE. The news adds, “ Being established under the new regulatory framework, we intend to work closely with regulators, business leaders, and government entities to further advance the UAE’s global role as a leader in technology and business. This distinction highlights our dedication to embracing robust oversight and well-defined procedures to support and enhance the crypto community within the UAE and worldwide.”

According to Dominik Schiener, Chairman of the IOTA Foundation: ”From the very beginning, we have experienced a very warm welcome and unwavering support from leaders, regulators, and businesses in Abu Dhabi. I am simply amazed at how the country operates and how it is being led by visionary and open-minded leaders. This “can-do” mentality is the perfect environment for us to take IOTA to the next level. We are excited to play a role in helping to establish the UAE as a hub for technology innovations.”

One of its primary objectives of the UAE based IOTA entity will be to provide essential funding and support to the rapidly growing IOTA ecosystem. This commitment aligns with our mission to foster innovation and development within the broader DLT space.

The move doesnt come as a surprise as in May 2023, IOTA executives and UAE governmental leaders had fruitful discussions on IOTA’s role in the UAE digital strategy. 

Swiss Hashgraph association partners with UAE du telecom for enterprise blockchain solutions

Swiss Hashgraph association partners with UAE du telecom for enterprise blockchain solutions

Swiss based Hashgraph association has partnered with UAE du telecom to harness the potential of the Hedera Blockchain to offer secure traceable and scalable solutions for enterprises.

du and the The Hashgraph Association will provide innovative blockchain solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), governmental institutions, and municipalities by leveraging the efficiency of Hashgraph on a decentralised, public network, the Hedera Distributed Ledger Technology ensures a trusted and reliable foundation for the newly developed solutions.

Target sectorswill include manufacturing, healthcare, education, smart cities, and agriculture, catering to a wide range of industries seeking secure and efficient applications.

Notably, Hedera stands out as the greenest proof-of-stake network according to UCL research, aligning perfectly with du’s commitment to providing sustainable solutions.

Prior to this Kuwait based Zain telecom group had joined Hedera as one of their governing council members. 

In June 2023  Hashgraph Association, an independent non-profit organization focused on building a vibrant innovative ecosystem for startups, enterprises, and government institutions leveraging the capabilities of Hedera Hashgraph announced it would be expanding into the UAE and launching Hashgraph Ventures out of Abu Dhabi’s ADGM ( Abu Dhabi Global Market) with several important large enterprise collaborations within the UAE. 

In addition Humans.ai Blockchain for AIs which announced it would be working with UAE based RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO) and Blockchain AI empowered platform Humans.ai   to drive artificial intelligence innovation in the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) UAE, had introduced wrapped AI NFTs using Hedera Hashgraph blockchain network. 

Humans.ai’s cutting-edge Blockchain for AIs has launched its cross-chain interoperability with Hedera Hashgraph, to revolutionize the way AI NFTs are used across different platforms.

UAE Central Bank, and BIS call for blockchain solutions for auditing in sustainable Finance

UAE Central Bank, and BIS call for blockchain solutions for auditing in sustainable Finance

The Central Bank of the UAE, and the Bank of international settleents along with Emirates Institute of Finance, have called innovators and developers to submit blockchain solutions for auditing, enhancing transparency, traceability and accountability in sustainable finance. The call comes unser the COP29 UAE TechSprint, an initiative aimed at promoting innovation in scaling sustainable finance and combating climate change. The launch of the COP28 UAE TechSprint comes ahead of the UAE’s hosting of COP28 later this year.

The initiative aims to encourage the participation of financial innovators and developers from global private and public sector entities in fast-tracking innovative technology solutions to address challenges in green and sustainable finance through technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and sensor technologies across three problem statements:

AI solutions for sustainable finance reporting, verification, and disclosure in the financial services industry.

Blockchain solutions for auditing and enhancing transparency, traceability, and accountability in sustainable finance.

IoT and sensor technology solutions for sustainable finance to ensure informed assessments of impact or risk. 

His Excellency Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of CBUAE and Chairman of EIF, said: “In line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership, and its endeavors to address the challenges of climate change; we value the partnership with COP28 UAE and the BIS in launching this international initiative aimed at encouraging innovators across the globe to leverage financial technology in developing new green and sustainable finance solutions.”

Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the BIS, said: “Combating climate change is more urgent than ever. It calls for a profound change in the way economies operate and grow. To finance the needed transformation, investors need certainty that their funds are channeled to their intended uses. Technologies that promote the timely measurement and disclosure of climate-related information are part of the solution. The BIS Innovation Hub has explored how to apply technologies such as AI, blockchain and internet-of-things to green finance instruments and climate-related disclosure. This TechSprint in collaboration with the COP28 UAE, the CBUAE and EIF will complement these efforts to address remaining gaps in the green finance market.”

The COP28 UAE TechSprint is open to technology and financial innovators and developers from around the world. To participate, please register at link and submit technology proposals to one or more problem statements by [Friday, 6 October 2023].

Shortlisted participants for each problem statement will be invited to further develop their solutions and will be eligible for a stipend of AED 45,000 (approximately USD 12,000)].

A winner for each problem statement will be selected by an independent panel of experts. The winners will be announced at COP28 UAE in December 2023, with each winner eligible for an award of [AED 220,000 (approximately USD 60,000)].

UAE based Helion Ventures to invest in Web3 gaming companies

UAE based Helion Ventures to invest in Web3 gaming companies

Dubai headquartered Helion Ventures, Web3 VC and venture builder, has announced that it will be investing in gaming companies.

In a linkedin post, Helion ventures are announcing investment in gaming companies. As they noted in their post, “ The web3 gaming industry will hold significant importance for the economy by transforming the gaming industry and creating new economic opportunities.”Entities can apply now and get the chance to fund your project: https://lnkd.in/djj_uycNThis announcement comes after Web3 gaming startup GAM3S.GG.based out of Abu Dhabi UAE has just raised $2 million in seed funding led by investment firm Mechanism Capital and other angel investors including  Polygon, Double Peak, ArkStream Capital, LD Capital, ROK Capital, Hyperithm, Snackclub, Emurgo Ventures, Eden Ventures and Mix Marvel Ventures.In addition South Korea’s Blockchain, NFT, metaverse game developer and publisher WeMade  also recently signed an onboarding agreements with several domestic and international game companies for the blockchain game platform “WEMIX Play.” One of those is a UAE game company, Project Seed, which will be working on a fantasy action role playing game RPG titled Outland Odyssey.In May 2023 South Korean blockchain developer WEMIX and Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create and accelerate growth opportunities for their respective portfolio companies and Web3 startups.Earlier this year in January Abu Dhabi in its stive to become a global gaming hub through the AD Gaming government led initiative partnered with AA Meta a local Metaverse and Web3 Development Company. The company will deliver cutting-edge Web3 solutions to the emirate’s game development eco-system.

UAE Web3 Blockchain enabled gaming startup raises $2 million amidst growing investment in gaming

UAE Web3 Blockchain enabled gaming startup raises $2 million amidst growing investment in gaming

Web3 gaming startup GAM3S.GG.based out of Abu Dhabi UAE has just raised $2 million in seed funding led by investment firm Mechanism Capital and other angel investors including  Polygon, Double Peak, ArkStream Capital, LD Capital, ROK Capital, Hyperithm, Snackclub, Emurgo Ventures, Eden Ventures and Mix Marvel Ventures.

Formerly known as Polkastarter Gaming, GAM3S.GG, offers curated Web3 gaming content, with 200 listed games across 15 chains and over 60,000 registered gamers.

Omar Ghanem, Co-Founder and Chief Executive officer of Gam3S.GG states, “The gaming industry is at a crossroads while Web3 offers new exciting possibilities, the lack of quality content and a singular destination for all your Web3 gaming needs has left many gamers lost.”

GAM3S.GG said it is building the hub to enable newcomers and professional gamers to explore new frontiers and experiences within one single Web3 gaming superapp. The startup is also a member of AD Gaming, the entity responsible for developing the gaming and e-sports industry in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Gaming (AD Gaming), is supported by Unity Technologies, Flash Entertainment, UAE Pro League, Emirates Esports Association and the Media Zone Authority. AD Gaming hopes to provide a support system for game developers, players, consumers, and businesses in Abu Dhabi. The initiative will work to grow regional gaming and esports talent and bring gaming events to Abu Dhabi.

GAM3S.GG intends to build advanced features to eliminate barriers to entry for blockchain games, including social logins, player-owned item management, progression rewards, in-game progress tracking, as well as directly playing Web3 games on the platform.

Prior to this announcement, South Korea’s Blockchain, NFT, metaverse game developer and publisher WeMade signed onboarding agreements with several domestic and international game companies for the blockchain game platform “WEMIX Play.” One of those is a UAE game company, Project Seed, which will be working on a fantasy action role playing game RPG titled Outland Odyssey.

Reports have noted that MENA gaming revenue will hit $6 billion by 2027. Over $3 billion was invested in the industry by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2022, as part of a much larger $38 billion commitment by PIF to be used by its company Savvy Games Group (SGG). Multiple acquisitions in gaming (Embracer Group, Scopely) and esports (ESL, FACEIT, VSPO) have already been executed.

BCG’s latest gaming report titled ‘Game Changer: Accelerating the Media Industry’s Most Dynamic Sector’, highlights that more than 60% of the population in the Middle East are gaming enthusiasts, resulting in one of the highest shares of gaming mobile app downloads (50% compared to the global average of 40%).

A strong indication of Middle East populations towards gaming is strong growth of game streaming at 24.5% CAGR, which is on path to reach approximately 200 million users in 2025, according to Boston Consulting Group’s latest gaming report. The region’s growth is three times faster compared to China, the current leader, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.5% versus 7.6%.

The gaming industry is big business in the Middle East and Africa. Several hundred million gamers live in the region, making up 15% of total gamers globally. In the United Arab Emirates alone, the gaming industry is worth an estimated $288m.

“The metaverse and gaming go hand in hand, with so many new ways of bringing high-quality gaming and esports content to global audiences through metaverse ecosystems,” said James Hartt, director of strategic partnerships at AD Gaming, which is an organization that aims to build a self-sustaining gaming and e-sports ecosystem in Abu Dhabi.

 “Abu Dhabi has become a regional hub for Web3 gaming,” Sultan Al Riyami, head of gaming and eSports at AD Gaming, said. The UAE is also investing heavily in gaming. In an interview in June 2023, Anton Vasilenko, co-founder and CEO of True Games stated, “Over the next two years, we’ll be investing significantly in the future development and expansion of eSports lounges in the UAE and across the broader Middle East region. By the end of 2023, we plan to invest $13.5 million into developing our gaming centers in the UAE alone.”

UAE based OasisX raises funds for Lebanon’s Children’s Cancer center using NFTs

UAE based OasisX raises funds for Lebanon’s Children’s Cancer center using NFTs

UAE based OasisX is raising funds for Lebanon’s Childrens Cancer Center leveraging NFTs.

As per the LinkedIn post, CCCL ( Childrens Cancer Center Lebanon) will utilize OasisX’s no-code Creator Studio and their creative production team to seamlessly bring the art created by these courageous young souls to the blockchain and the world.The post states, “ At Oasis X, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what blockchain technology can achieve. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to using cutting-edge solutions to leave a lasting & positive impact, and bring expanded use cases to the NFT & Web3 space.”OasisX launched back in July 2022. Dubai-based OasisX, the first multi chain curated NFT Marketplace and Creator Studio launched to pave the way for MENA based creators, collectors, and brands to take part in this new digital era. The platform had at the time already on boarded more than 100 artists for its launch in addition to multiple regional brands for web3 activations.Najib Khanafer, Ramzi Mneimneh, and Jimi Ibrahim decided to take on the challenge of building secure and accessible tools to navigate the NFT and web3 world, bringing meaningful impact to artists, creators, collectors and brands from the region. All three have extensive knowledge in crypto, blockchain and technology and have been early adopters of this disruptive digital trend.According to the founders, Web3 is a more trustworthy foundation for achieving financial freedom; and NFTs represent a first, modest step towards solving one of the core problems of Web 2.0: digital applicability and ownership.

Daoversal first Blockchain AI startup to graduate from Dubai’s DIFC metaverse accelerator program

Daoversal first Blockchain AI startup to graduate from Dubai’s DIFC metaverse accelerator program

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), announced graduation of its first metaverse cohort of 10 regional and global start-ups as part of its ‘DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme, which included blockchain Web3 Social ecosystem platform startup Daoversal. 

The news follows the launch of DIFC’s Metaverse Platform earlier this year, in line with the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, which aims to add USD 4bn to Dubai’s GDP, support 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030, and attract 1,000 companies specialised in blockchain and metaverse technologies. At the time DIFC had noted it would choose 50 startups, yet it seems that only 10 have graduated. The inaugural ‘DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme’ was the first initiative announced under the ‘DIFC Metaverse Platform’ umbrella, and attracted over 160 applicants from the UAE, UK, US, India and France, with a focus on primarily Metaverse, AI, Web3, AR/VR and Blockchain sectors.The ‘DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme’, backed by programme partners Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), DP World, and Daoverse Capital, onboarded 10 promising start-ups on 5 June 2023 with 3 months of intense bootcamp workshops to follow.Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of the DIFC Innovation Hub, said, “Earlier this year, Dubai’s Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy endorsed the DIFC Metaverse Platform, positioning DIFC as the first government entity globally to champion an integrated Metaverse hub. To see the DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme come to fruition as part of that initiative with over 160 international applicants, a network of over 60 ecosystem partners, and 10 talented start-ups graduating already is encouraging and will no doubt inspire others to join us as we together embark on our next phase of growth.”Among the startups selected were Artichoke Labs, a spatial computing company specialising in creating city-scale augmented reality applications; Cognitive Technologies, experts in establishing Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks to enable both hardware and software automation; Daoversal, an expansive blockchain-based Web3 social ecosystem platform; and DoDocs, which is building a service to generate legal documents in any language for any country or jurisdiction for both individuals and businesses.In addition there was Duverse, a start-up involved in developing and implementing advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions; Evometa, a boutique digital studio providing Metaverse-as-a-service solutions for enterprises in real estate, hospitality, industrial and automotive markets; and Flan, engaged in creating micro communities for clients and creative workers to meet, Intelligent Assist and ShopDoc, two digital healthcare delivery platforms, and GoPal, a revolutionary Metaverse-based EdTech Platform.