As part of the highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), two pivotal events—Bitcoin MENA 2024 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum (ADEF)—highlighted Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global hub for finance and technology. These events kicked off with packed agendas, drawing thousands of participants, influential global leaders, and top-tier experts to explore transformative ideas shaping the future of finance, investment, and digital innovation.
Abu Dhabi: A Week of Celebration and Innovation
With Formula 1 at the beginning of the week, Abu Dhabi offered a great experience for all. The cryptocurrency sector celebrated a collective win in the city as the McLaren Formula 1 team clinched the coveted Constructors’ Championship title. Lando Norris cruised to victory at the Yas Marina Circuit, bringing down the curtain on this year’s race calendar and securing an accolade McLaren hadn’t won in 26 years. The success was shared by OKX, one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, which has been a primary partner of the team since 2022.
ADFW Opens with Grandeur
ADFW, one of MENA’s most anticipated four-day event series, officially launched with a spectacular opening ceremony at the ADQ Arena in ADGM. The event was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council, and featured a distinguished guest list of top financial leaders from over 100 countries.
The theme of Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy was at the core of the event’s first day staged high-level strategic discussions and highlighted the city’s growing status as the ‘Capital of Capital’.
The event commenced with a special address by His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Member of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council, and Chairman of ADGM and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), where he highlighted Abu Dhabi’s growth and the promise of a prosperous future in the capital of the UAE. His speech was accompanied by an uplifting video that welcomed delegates to the ‘Capital of Capital’ and showcased Abu Dhabi’s exponential growth, especially over the past three years, since the launch of ADFW’s first edition.
Commenting on ADFW’s grand opening ceremony, H.E Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi said, “In a world seeking stability and growth, Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy stands as an unwavering partner for businesses, investors, innovators, and visionaries alike, welcoming them to the ‘Capital of Capital’. Here, every investment and every relationship are supported by our commitment to build a future defined by trust, resilience, and boundless opportunity. As our jurisdiction expands and achieves new milestones, our community grows simultaneously. Through international platforms like ADFW, we invite the world to join us in shaping conversations that will outline the legacy of progress that transcends borders and generations.”
Bitcoin MENA 2024: Transforming the Digital Economy
This year, the crypto community had its own highly anticipated event – the Bitcoin MENA 2024 conference. H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the Bitcoin MENA Conference at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. This historic event marks the first time the conference has been held in the Middle East, highlighting the region’s growing role in the global digital currency ecosystem.
The event, organised by the ADNEC Group in collaboration with BTC Inc., and in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center, has attracted over 5,200 global experts and decision-makers. Featuring participation from 55 countries, the conference includes 120 distinguished speakers who will share their insights into Bitcoin and digital currency trends. Alongside the conference, the accompanying exhibition spans over 8,000 square metres, showcasing innovations from 500 leading companies and brands.
In his address, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan stated: “The Bitcoin MENA Conference reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for innovation and technology. Organising such an event reflects Abu Dhabi’s dedication to hosting initiatives that drive technological and economic progress, in line with our vision of fostering a knowledge-based, sustainable global community.”
Abdullah Al Dhaheri, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center, underscored the transformative journey of Bitcoin since its inception in 2008, noting its evolution from a niche concept to a global financial revolution. He stated: “Bitcoin is no longer just a digital currency; it symbolises transparency, autonomy, and a redefined global financial framework. This conference provides a valuable platform to explore Bitcoin’s potential to shape the future of finance, foster innovation, and build partnerships that support
emerging economies and financial inclusion.”
Day One of Bitcoin MENA 2024 has drawn to a close with thousands of visitors witnessing key insights from global industry leaders.
Key Sessions and Insights
The Rise of Bitcoin as a Utility-Based Asset
A Fireside Chat with Changpeng Zhao of Giggle Academy highlighted Bitcoin’s evolution into a utility-based asset, reaching $100,000 in just 17 years. Zhao emphasized its potential as a reserve asset for nation-states and predicted that 20% of the global population will soon adopt Bitcoin.
Bitcoin’s Regulatory Landscape
At a panel entitled “How Nations Around the World Are Shaping Bitcoin’s Regulatory Landscape,” Irina Heaver of Neos Legal, Vishal Sacheendran of Binance, Sudhu Arumugam of M2, and AJ Nelson of Rain exchanged insights on the UAE’s leadership in regulatory compliance and trust while maintaining momentum in innovation, and the importance of consumer education on Bitcoin’s risks and benefits.
Bitcoin in Corporations
Lukas Enzersdorfer-Conrad from Bitpanda emphasized growing corporate interest in holding Bitcoin on balance sheets and Bitpanda’s role in enabling crypto services for financial institutions.
The Journey to $100k and Marketing Innovations
At a Fireside Chat on ‘The Journey to $100k and Where We Go from Here,’ Star Xu, CEO and Founder of OKX, spoke about his company’s partnership with McLaren’s F1 race team as an example of innovative marketing that has brought new consumers into cryptocurrency through an emphasis on self-ownership and autonomy for consumers and corporations.
The State of Bitcoin in the UAE
A Panel on ‘The State of Bitcoin in the UAE’ with Bruce Fenton of Chainstone Labs, Basil Al Askari of MidChains, Abdulla Aldhaheri of The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi, and Odey Qemal of Zawda discussed the UAE’s leadership in Bitcoin adoption and innovation with sovereign funds and emerging businesses, rapid local development of the industry, evolving pro-banking regulations for the influx of new users into the ecosystem, and the importance of education for Bitcoin usage.
Nation-States and Bitcoin Adoption
In a session on “Why Nation-States Are Turning to Bitcoin,” Frank Corva of Bitcoin Magazine, Karthik Iyer Jayaraman of P2PFOUNDATION, Marwan Al Zarouni of the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism, and Prince Filip of Serbia discussed the importance of education in adopting Bitcoin, positive outcomes from focusing regulations on exchanges rather than on assets, and the prospects for making innovative use of Bitcoin mining to consume surplus energy.
Bitcoin as the Leading Reserve Asset
A keynote speech by Nick Neuman of Casa explained that nations had long relied on tangible assets like gold as a store of value and economic security, illustrating Bitcoin’s advantages over these traditional assets. Bitcoin has the potential to overtake gold as the world’s leading reserve asset, particularly as governments and institutions continue to embrace it, though self-custody was essential given that Bitcoin should not be held by any third party.
Proof of Work Stage Themes
Speakers at the Proof of Work Stage covered the Middle East’s emergence as an attractive hub for Bitcoin, the transition of mining operations to a zero-carbon future with green energy jobs and climate change mitigation, the promise of omnichain technology for redefining asset transfer, and the integration of Bitcoin mining with real estate construction to reduce energy costs.
A Unified Vision for the Future
As ADFW continues over the next three days with events like Asset Abu Dhabi, Fintech Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum, Abu Dhabi reinforces its status as a global capital of innovation and opportunity.
The Bitcoin MENA 2024 Conference on the other hand is set to redefine Abu Dhabi’s role in the global digital economy, positioning the city as a leader in hosting transformative events that drive innovation, collaboration, and economic diversification. With its focus on fostering knowledge exchange and advancing blockchain technologies, the event underscores Abu Dhabi’s vision as a hub for innovation and
forward-thinking initiatives.
