UAE Liv digital bank launched by Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has launched a cryptocurrency offering within its mobile banking app – Liv X allowing users to buy sell custody and trade cryptocurrencies in partnership with Aquanow, a UAE regulated crypto asset exchange and Zodia Custody also regulated in the UAE.

As per the press release, Liv digital bank is committed to introducing innovative products to its customers and this new cryptocurrency offering, with crypto infrastructure operated by Aquanow and custody services performed by Zodia Custody, will give users an intuitive experience that is straightforward and efficient to use.

Customers will be allowed to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies within the Liv X app, whilst also managing their day-to-day finances. Additionally, Liv follows robust security protocols to enable secure transactions, providing further assurance to customers. In short they will be able to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies within the Liv X app, providing them with direct access to digital assets. The offering is focused on trading and investment rather than direct payment for goods and services. The integration ensures a secure and compliant way for users to engage with digital assets within a regulated banking environment.

Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, noted, “We are excited to introduce our new cryptocurrency offering on Liv X, in partnership with Aquanow, giving customers the opportunity to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies conveniently and securely. Offering cryptocurrency on Liv X is the next step towards the overall vision of Liv being a pioneer in innovation and excellence. With the highest crypto adoption rate in the UAE, we are keen to launch our own virtual asset offering to capitalise on this trend.”

Phil Sham, Chief Executive Officer, Aquanow, said, “We are proud to partner with a storied financial institution in Emirates NBD, and excited to bring our globally deployed crypto solutions to a regional audience. Our partnership is a testament to the UAE’s emergence as a global crypto hub and is a leading example of how banks and fintech’s can collaborate to develop cutting edge, secure, and seamless product propositions that truly benefit the retail customer. Incumbent institutions like Emirates NBD will play a pivotal role in driving the next wave of digital asset adoption and Aquanow is proud to be the leading crypto provider chosen by financial institutions both here in the GCC and globally.”

The partnership with Emirates NBD focuses on integrating cryptocurrency trading within a regulated banking environment, allowing retail users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets securely through the Liv digital bank X app.

Recently Hubpay, a UAE cross-border payments platform partnered with Aquanow, to introduce the UAE’s first fully regulated crypto payments facility tailored for businesses and SMEs. In contrast to the partnership with Liv, the Hubpay partnership is centered around enabling crypto payments and cross-border transactions for businesses and SMEs. While both collaborations leverage Aquanow’s infrastructure, the ENBD partnership emphasizes retail crypto trading within a banking framework, whereas Hubpay focuses on payment solutions.