Fuze subsidiary Niobe licensed for digital asset payments in UAE

Fuze subsidiary Niobe licensed for digital asset payments in UAE

Fuze, a digital asset Blockchain enabled financial infrastructure providers, subsidiary Niobe Payment Services has been licensed to offer digital assets payments by the Central Bank of the UAE. The company now holds a Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (RPSCS) license.

Fuze Group, through its subsidiary Niobe Payment Services LLC SPC, is now both a fully licensed operator for digital assets infrastructure and, through its payments infrastructure division, a regulated payment services provider for the region.

As per the press release, the new license will enable businesses to benefit from faster, more secure payment options, reduced transaction times and end-to-end compliance.

Mohammed Ali Yusuf (Mo Ali Yusuf), CEO and Co-Founder of Fuze said, “This license is the launchpad for the next generation of payments. It marks a key step in our mission to provide digital and AI-enabled infrastructure that will drive the future of finance and transform payments. We are privileged to be granted this license from the Central Bank and look forward to providing cutting-edge, compliant payment infrastructure and novel solutions – like virtual IBANs – for a range of businesses.”

Fuze’s technology will enhance digital payments, supporting the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to double the contribution of the digital economy to the UAE’s GDP to 19.4 per cent by 2032.

Through its strong regulatory foundation, Fuze is now launching a new payment platform that combines AI-driven technology, user-friendly design, and integrated compliance features, to simplify and support modern business needs.

With the license in place, Fuze will soon roll out a comprehensive, compliant suite of payment products with features that include digital payments and settlements through real-time infrastructure, AI-enhanced compliance and fraud detection engine, virtual IBANs to make it easier to collect payments and manage funds, and merchant tools to help UAE-based businesses to manage payments and grow

UAE and Turkey to share crypto asset transaction information in 2028 with OECD

UAE and Turkey to share crypto asset transaction information in 2028 with OECD

On 14 April 2025, the United Arab Emirates Cabinet of Ministers as well as the Turkish government approved the signing of the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Information pursuant to the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF MCAA).

The CARF provides for the reporting of tax information on transactions in crypto-assets in a standardized manner, with a view to automatically exchanging such information. According to a OECD document on CARF commitments, the United Arab Emirates intends to exchange information under CARF by 2028.

As such both Turkey and USA have become part of the jurisdictions committed to implement the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework
(CARF) in time to commence exchanges in 2027 or 2028 as part of the Global Forum’s CARF commitment process.

The UAE currently does not tax individuals on their crypto holdings.

Dubai based Web3 Investment firm DWF Labs expands to USA

Dubai based Web3 Investment firm DWF Labs expands to USA

Dubai based DWF Labs, a crypto market maker and Web3 investment firm, expands to the United States with a new office in New York City while purchasing $25 million of World Liberty Financial (“WLFI”) governance tokens in a strategic private transaction, the decentralized finance protocol and governance platform inspired by President Donald J. Trump.

As per the announcement, the new U.S. office marks a significant milestone in DWF Labs’s global expansion strategy, positioning the firm to, strengthen institutional partnerships with banks, asset managers, and fintech firms exploring blockchain integration.
Hire local talent across trading, compliance, and business development.

The entity also seeks to enhance regulatory engagement with U.S. policymakers and advance educational initiatives with American colleges and universities while drive liquidity and adoption for high-quality projects like the USD1 stablecoin and its emerging DeFi ecosystem.


“The U.S. is the world’s largest single market for digital asset innovation,” said Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner of DWF Labs. “Our physical presence reflects our confidence in America’s role as the next growth region for institutional crypto adoption. Moreover, the USD1 stablecoin and forthcoming global DeFi solutions align with our broader mission to improve financial services.”

DWF Labs’s purchase of WLF tokens underscores its desire to participate in WLFI governance and focus on projects addressing real-world financial needs, as evidenced by the growing demand for institutional-ready stablecoins like USD1.

As part of this collaboration, DWF Labs plans to provide liquidity for USD1, leveraging its deep liquidity network and algorithmic infrastructure across centralized and decentralized venues. This strategic role underscores DWF Lab’s commitment to supporting stable, transparent digital assets and advancing the adoption of fiat-referenced stablecoins globally.

“We believe that crypto is going to transform and improve global finance, and stablecoins like USD1 will continue to be fundamental elements in the DeFi technology stack,” said Zak Folkman, co-founder at World Liberty Financial. “As our partner, we expect DWF Labs to help accelerate the next-generation infrastructure we’re actively building and deploying at WLFI.”

Mantra Blockchain shares preliminary report awaiting crypto exchanges collaboration

Mantra Blockchain shares preliminary report awaiting crypto exchanges collaboration

UAE regulated Mantra Blockchain platform for the tokenization of real world assets has published a preliminary report on the OM Token price fall.

As per the post On 13 April at approximately 18:28 UTC, the OM token experienced significant and unexpected downward price action, resulting in a 92% decline over a period of approximately one hour. This unusual market activity has raised questions within our community, and we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our token holders during this period of market volatility.

The post notes that the Mantra team have been conducting a thorough investigation to find our the key factors contributing to the rapid price movement and present verifiable data confirming the current OM Token circulating supply.

Mantra states, ” Our objective is to deliver a fact-based assessment that addresses community questions and outlines measures to strengthen market resilience. While our investigation remains ongoing, we are committed to sharing verified information in a timely and transparent manner. We appreciate the community’s patience as we compile a comprehensive understanding of this market event.”

No sales of OM token were made by the MANTRA team or advisors as those remain locked, however ERC-20 OM tokens are in public circulation and outside of Mantra’s control.

  1. Legacy ERC-20 OM Tokens (Fully Circulating)
    The original OM token (ERC-20) was launched in August 2020 with a fixed total supply of 888.88 million OM. As of 15 April, 2025, 99.995% of these tokens are in public circulation, held by more than 123,000 wallets, meaning they are fully liquid and tradable on the open market. Key allocations from the original OM ERC-20 tokens — including public/private sales, team/advisors, grants, reserves, referrals, and staking rewards—have all been fully distributed. This means market activity for these tokens is driven by holders and external trading dynamics. Further details on the ERC-20 OM buckets and balances can be found in Appendix A.
  2. MANTRA Chain Mainnet OM Tokens (Limited Circulation)
    In October 2024, the launch of MANTRA Chain introduced an additional 888.88 million OM coins minted natively on the new blockchain, alongside an onchain inflation mechanism. Currently, 77.5 million OM of these MANTRA Chain coins are in circulation. There are currently over 200,000 mainnet OM wallets. Further details on the Mainnet OM buckets and balances can be found in Appendix B.

  5. The total OM supply stands at 1.81 billion tokens, split evenly between legacy ERC-20 and new Mainnet OM. Of this:
  • 53% (969.61 million OM) is currently circulating. Nearly all circulating supply (92%) comes from the fully liquid ERC-20 tokens, with just 8% originating from Mainnet OM. As per Mantra the incident almost exclusively involved ERC-20 OM, as ERC-20 OM represents virtually the entire liquid market.

    MANTRA acknowledges that significant amounts of OM tokens were moved onto exchanges for use as collateral. Based on MANTRA’s review of independent observations (here and here) of the incident, it is evident that there were forced OM position closures during a period characterized by reduced market activity (around 02:00 am Monday HKT). These liquidations created excessive selling pressure on the OM token market.

    As per the analysis of Mantra, the forces liquidations according to Mantra initiated a sequential market reaction which pushed the price downward which triggered automated liquidation events across exchanges for leverage positions using OM as collateral. A divergence on OM Token spot price between OKX and Binance was noted in hours commending around 18:00 UTC. As such Mantra noted that significant OM Traders were liquidated by centralized exchanges, and that they are awaiting further information from crypto exchange partners for clarification.

    As for the future Mantra plans to release details of its OM Token support plan with OM Token buyback and supply burn program. The CEO and Founder John Patrick Mullin, has committed to burn his team allocation. Mantra calls on centralized exchanges to collaborate and provide clarity on trading activities while Mantra releases a dashboard with live balances of tokenomics buckets for additional market transparency.

    Mantra Chain CEO to give full story on OM Token loss

    Mantra Chain CEO to give full story on OM Token loss

    The CEO and Founder of UAE regulated Mantra Chain John Patrick Mullin announced on LinkedIn ( 23 hours ago) that the event regarding the $OM Token severe losses at the beginning of this week, were a result of a massive forced liquidation of a very large OM holder’s position on a crypto exchange.

    Since the incident the OM token has lost $5 billion in value, and stands at a market cap of $741 million.

    He noted however that regardless of your scale of loss, all investors and community members are in his and his teams thoughts. He as such along with the leadership team are exploring buy back programs and a supply burn to restore investor confidence.

    He added that within the next 24 hours, he will be making a public factual post mortem that will share all the details of what transpired in the early hours of Monday morning (APAC). He states, ” This analysis will be as accurate and factual as we can possibly make it. It will not contain opinions or spin. We believe the truth is on our side, and it is in everyone’s interest to make it known and shared as widely as possible. It’ll be shared on my account, along with our official channels.”

    Later on in an X post he explained further with regards to burning of tokens. He stated, “To be 100% clear, I am stating that I am burning MY team tokens, and we will create a comprehensive burn program for other parts of the OM supply.”

    Investors in Mantra, such as Shorooq and Laser Digital denied claims of token sale.

    UAE Central Bank licenses Relm and Liva insurance to offer insurance for Web3 businesses

    UAE Central Bank licenses Relm and Liva insurance to offer insurance for Web3 businesses

    UAE Central Bank has licensed Relm Insurance a dedicated insurer to emerging sectors – and Liva Insurance, a GCC insurance provider to offer their dedicated multi-line insurance solution for WEB3 businesses – SIGMAWEB3, and its tailored version for Dubai’s virtual asset regulatory authority VARA-regulated companies, SIGMAWEB3 VARA.

    As per the press release, this follows the signing of Relm and Liva’s strategic partnership in February 2025, aimed at empowering innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging sectors such as digital assets, biotech and AI.

    The UAE Central Bank approval reinforces Relm and Liva’s commitment to deliver tailored insurance solutions that address the unique

    SIGMAWEB3 and SIGMAWEB3 VARA will help create the confidence and resiliency that WEB3 innovators require to tackle complex challenges and seize new opportunities, while meeting the necessary regulatory requirements. Both products are designed specifically for digital asset companies, blockchain startups, crypto exchanges, and fintech innovators, addressing the unique and complex financial, professional, crime, and cyber exposures inherent in their operations.

    SIGMAWEB3 VARA is specifically tailored to meet the requirements of Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), ensuring that crypto companies can operate with compliant insurance cover.

    “Securing Central Bank approval for SIGMAWEB3 and SIGMAWEB3 VARA is a significant step for brokers and clients in the UAE. This milestone facilitates more comprehensive coverage tailored to the unique risks of the Web3 space. By closing the insurance gap, we’re empowering businesses with the protection they need to innovate confidently in a rapidly evolving market” said Joseph Ziolkowski, CEO of Relm Insurance.

    “SIGMAWEB3 and SIGMAWEB3 VARA represent a significant step in our commitment to supporting growth and evolution of innovation within the insurance industry. This approval from Central Bank affirms both Liva Group’s deep market insight and Relm’s expertise in specialised insurance as well as reinforcing the vital role that regulatory collaboration plays in fostering a secure and thriving digital economy. Together, we aim to provide customers with solutions that meet their evolving needs, while strengthening our commitment to scale and diversify our business.” Martin Rueegg, Group CEO of Liva Group.

    A year earlier OneDegree, Asia’s licensed insurer for digital assets and Dubai Insurance Company announced the issuance of digital assets custodial risk insurance to their customers in UAE. The Central Bank of UAE approved issuance of the digital asset insurance offering.

    OneDegree and Dubai Insurance partnered in 2023. Custodial risk insurance completes the product portfolio and allows the partners to offer a one-stop-shop for digital asset companies in the UAE, under the brand “OneInfinity”.

    VARA, Dubai’s dedicated regulator for digital assets, requires such coverage along with professional indemnity and directors & officers insurance. With this latest approval, specialized custodial risk insurance can be offered directly in UAE for the first time. Custodial risk insurance protects companies against the risk of losing access to digital assets including through third party hacks and theft, internal fraud and physical damage to the storage media.

    UAE Cequire Capital invests half a million in crypto trading platform TX24

    UAE Cequire Capital invests half a million in crypto trading platform TX24

    Cequire Capital, a UAE-based investment firm specializing in blockchain and digital asset ventures, has announced a capital injection of $500,000 into digital asset platform TX24.

    As per the press release, this capital injection is part of Cequire’s mission to empower cutting edge crypto ventures. The investment will support TX24’s global expansion to offer secure and accessible digital asset services.

    TX24 is a secure and scalable cryptocurrency platform offering fast, low-fee digital asset transactions for users around the globe. Designed for both beginners and advanced traders. It provides tools for buying, selling, storing, and managing cryptocurrencies delivered through a simple and powerful interface.

    “We invest in platforms that are building tomorrow’s crypto experience–not just riding hype cycles,” said the CEO of Cequire Capital. “TX24 demonstrates a rare mix of usability, innovation, and readiness to scale. Our investment reflects our belief in their long-term potential and our shared commitment to a decentralized financial future.”

    TX24 isn’t just a trading venue, it’s a flexible digital finance ecosystem. Funding options include credit cards, bank transfers, and instant deposit methods, making it easy for first-timers to get started. Once funded, users can buy, sell, and manage assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide range of altcoins. For advanced users and institutional traders, TX24 Pro unlocks a host of additional features: customizable dashboards, API access, low latency for high-volume execution, and transparent, flat-fee pricing structures.

    Using the investment TX24 will make major platform enhancements, such as additional trading pairs streamlined performance, and improved mobile capabilities. It will also expand its liquidity to enable more stable trading markets as well as focus on growing its footprint in emerging markets.


    Abu Dhabi Inovartic to launch tokenized real estate investment platform with Brikyland

    Abu Dhabi Inovartic to launch tokenized real estate investment platform with Brikyland

    Brikyland Technologies, a blockchain-based real estate tokenization platform, and Abu Dhabi based Inovartic Investments, an innovation and technologies driven investment firm, have signed joint venture partnership aimed at jointly exploring, developing, and implementing tokenized real estate and green asset backed investment technologies in UAE. The venture is expected to roll out projects in key real estate developments and green asset backed initiatives across the UAE, with further announcements to follow in the coming months.

    As per the press release, the collaboration is set to leverage blockchain, smart contract infrastructure, and digital asset frameworks to unlock new models of fractional ownership, liquidity, and transparency in the real estate and sustainable investment space. The joint venture will operate in full compliance with ADGM’s evolving regulatory environment governing virtual assets and digital finance.

    The two parties seek to develop a UAE based tokenization platform for premium real estate and green assets that will enable compliant fractional ownership structures using blockchain and smart contracts. They will also work to introduce innovative investment vehicles aligned with ESG principles and sustainability mandates and collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure alignment with national digital asset policies.

    The agreement follows the UAE–Vietnam Business Forum held on April 10, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, where both entities reaffirmed their commitment to advancing technology cooperation. This partnership reflects that vision by strengthening cross-border collaboration in emerging technologies and green finance.

    “This partnership with Brikyland Technologies is a natural extension of our vision to drive the next generation of asset backed investment solutions rooted in transparency, sustainability, and technological advancement,” said Anwar Hussein, Managing Partner and Co Founder of Inovartic Investments. “Together, we are laying the foundation for a new era of real estate investment and green asset monetization in the UAE.”

    Dr. Dang Ha Lam, Founder Chairman and CEO of Brikyland Technologies, added, “Our technology is designed to make real estate and green assets more accessible and tradable. Partnering with Inovartic opens up strategic opportunities to expand our footprint in the UAE with a focus on institutional grade solutions and compliance-first innovation.”

    Saif Aldarmaki Chairman and Co Founder of Inovartic Investments, also noted that the partnership reflects the share commitment to advancing cross-border innovation and sustainable investment. He notes, “By integrating Brikyland’s blockchain technology, we aim to pioneer next-generation asset-backed financial solutions that align with the UAE’s digital economy vision and deepen our commercial ties with Vietnam.”

    Founding Advisor of Brikyland Technologies Dr Phillip Thai Pham (BA MIT, Dr. Standford) commented, “We welcome this strategic joint venture as a timely and progressive step that aligns with Vietnam’s commitment to fostering global partnerships in innovation and sustainable development. The collaboration between Brickyland and Inovartic reflects the spirit of cooperation highlighted during the UAE–Vietnam Business Forum. We believe this initiative will open new investment channels, create high impact technological applications, and strengthen the economic bridge between our two nations.”

    The Hayvn digital asset saga ends with $8.85 million in fines

    The Hayvn digital asset saga ends with $8.85 million in fines

    The saga that has engrossed UAE based HAYVN, a digital asset focused financial institution, providing trading, asset Management, custody, and payments previously regulated in ADGM UAE, has ended after more than a year with fines of over $8 million.

    The saga which started in December 2023, when Hayvn announced the so called resignation of its CEO Christopher Flinos and the request to make its status inactive in Abu Dhabi ADGM ( Abu Dhabi Global Market), insinuated that the CEO had carried out a huge misconduct, has come to a conclusion with the The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”) regulatory arm of ADGM taking enforcement action following an investigation into serious regulatory breaches and misconduct related to the Hayvn Group of Companies, which operated under the name ‘HAYVN’, its former CEO, Christopher Flinos and related entities. 

    In February 2024, Deus X Capital, a $1 billion family office agreed to buy out HAYVN and appointed Richard Crook as new CEO. Deus X Capital purchased the business brand, technology, clients and staff from other HAYVN shareholders.

    Today, and as per ADGM FSRA press release, the FSRA’s investigation found serious breaches and misconduct concerning the operations of three related party companies and Christopher Flinos.  As part of its investigation, the FSRA took steps to ensure that no ADGM client assets or money were lost as a result of the relevant misconduct.  

    The enforcement action has resulted in the cancellation of Hayvn ADGM’s Financial Services Permission (“FSP”), the prohibition of Christopher Flinos indefinitely from performing any function in a financial services business in ADGM, as well as financial penalties totalling $8.85 million being imposed across the four parties involved.  Details of the total fines imposed are as follows:

    • USD 3.6 million against AC Holding Limited registered in the Cayman Islands (“Hayvn Cayman”), the parent company of a group of entities operating under the name ‘HAYVN’ that provided financial services related to Virtual Assets.
    • USD 3 million against AC Limited (Hayvn) (“Hayvn ADGM”), an ADGM-based subsidiary of Hayvn Cayman, licensed and regulated by the FSRA to conduct specific financial services activities in relation to Virtual Assets.
    • USD 1.5 million against AC Holding Limited (“AC Holding”), a Special Purpose Vehicle (“SPV”) registered with the Registration Authority (“RA”) of ADGM and not licensed by the FSRA to carry out any form of financial services activity in ADGM; unconnected to Hayvn Cayman and Hayvn ADGM.
    • USD 750,000 against Christopher Flinos, the former Senior Executive Officer (“SEO”) of Hayvn ADGM, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of Hayvn Cayman, sole owner and director of AC Holding.

    The misconduct and breaches were related to Hayvn ADGM exceeding the scope of its FSP by allowing client transactions to be routed through accounts held by AC Holding, the unregulated SPV entity registered in ADGM, without any appropriate protections being in place.  It failed to establish and maintain adequate systems and controls to manage its operations and risks, as well as to recognize and record all of its client relationships, breaching the FSRA’s Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) requirements.

    The company Hayvn Cayman and AC Holding also carried out significant unlicensed financial services activity in relation to Virtual Assets in ADGM from around October 2018 to around May 2024. 

    Hayvn Cayman routed client transactions related to the conversion of Virtual Assets to fiat currency and vice versa through the accounts held and controlled by AC Holding, the SPV that was not licensed by the FSRA and therefore prohibited from conducting any form of financial services activity in ADGM.

     As a result, both Hayvn Cayman and AC Holding were found to have carried out unlicensed payments and arranging services in relation to Virtual Asset activities in ADGM.

     Christopher Flinos played a central role in directing and controlling the unlicensed activity in ADGM and as SEO of Hayvn ADGM and CEO of Hayvn Cayman and as the sole director of AC Holding was found to have been centrally involved in the breaches and misconduct. 

    The report notes that Christopher Flinos lacked integrity and failed to take reasonable care to ensure that Hayvn ADGM operated in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of ADGM, for which he was ultimately responsible as SEO.

    Hayvn Cayman, AC Holding and Christopher Flinos created and disseminated false and misleading information about the nature of the transactions related to Virtual Assets routed through AC Holding’s accounts.  This included the provision of over 200 false and misleading documents on AC Holding letterheads to AC Holding’s banking partners to open and then maintain the operation of these accounts.  These documents were produced under the direction of Christopher Flinos with the involvement of both Hayvn Cayman and AC Holding.

    Hayvn ADGM, Hayvn Cayman and Christopher Flinos provided false and misleading information to the FSRA in response to requests for information including the nature and scope of the business operations associated with each entity above and specifically AC Holding undermining the integrity of the regulatory process. 

    Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of the FSRA of ADGM, said, “The FSRA will take robust and appropriate enforcement action against individuals and entities that violate our regulatory framework.  In this case, the actions of the entities and individuals involved were particularly serious, as they conducted unauthorised Virtual Asset activities through an unregulated entity based in ADGM.  Furthermore, Christopher Flinos was found to have provided false and misleading information and statements during the investigation.  Such misconduct will not be tolerated and warrants strong regulatory penalties which send a strong message of deterrence. ”

    Givanakis added, “To address this serious misconduct, the licence of Hayvn ADGM has been cancelled, significant fines have been imposed on the entities involved, and Christopher Flinos has been prohibited from holding any functions in relation to financial services in ADGM.  The FSRA remains ever-vigilant and committed to holding entities and individuals accountable for their actions and ensuring the integrity of the financial system in ADGM.”

    The FSRA of ADGM acknowledges and thanks ADGM’s Registration Authority and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) for their cooperation during its investigation in relation to this matter.