MENA News
Discover the latest blockchain and crypto news from the MENA region, including updates from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, covering trends, regulations, and developments shaping the industry
Hubpay, a UAE-based cross-border payments platform, has partnered with Aquanow, a digital asset infrastructure provider, to introduce a regulated cryptocurrency payment solution for businesses and SMEs in the UAE. This partnership enables companies in various sectors, including real estate, manufacturing, and general trading, to accept cryptocurrency payments alongside traditional fiat transactions. Aquanow ME FZE operates under Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), while Hubpay is regulated by the Financial Services…
Read More »The Stacks Asia DLT Foundation has officially registered with the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), marking another milestone in the UAE’s growing blockchain ecosystem. This move reinforces ADGM’s status as a global hub for blockchain innovation, attracting leading protocols to establish their presence under its Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations Regime. Stacks’ Expansion and Strategic Vision Stacks, the leading Bitcoin Layer-2 platform for decentralized applications and smart contracts, has been…
Read More »Global financial technology company and leading stablecoin issuer, Circle, has achieved a new regulatory milestone with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) officially recognizing USDC and EURC as approved crypto tokens within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This marks the first time stablecoins have been granted approval under the DIFC’s crypto token framework, further solidifying USDC and EURC’s position as the world’s leading regulated stablecoins. Expanding Stablecoin Adoption in…
Read More »Outlier Ventures, the world’s leading deep-tech Web3 accelerator, has successfully wrapped up its inaugural FutureSpark Base Camp in Riyadh. Conducted in strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia’s National Technology Development Program (NTDP) and supported by NEOM, the accelerator program provided participants with essential resources and expert mentorship to drive Web3 innovation in the region. A Milestone for Saudi Arabia’s Web3 Industry The FutureSpark Base Camp marked Saudi Arabia’s first deep-tech Web3…
Read More »The UAE has positioned itself as a global leader in the digital asset space, attracting major players and fostering a progressive regulatory environment. Unlike many jurisdictions, a UAE digital asset license is not solely intended to serve the local market; rather, it provides businesses with a gateway to international expansion. Many firms that obtain a VARA license, for example, find it easier to secure additional licenses in other jurisdictions, as…
Read More »Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has granted MANTRA a VASP license with a DeFi Limited License, marking a notable milestone in the UAE’s evolving regulatory landscape for decentralized finance (DeFi). While MANTRA has positioned this as the “first DeFi license” from VARA, the official designation clarifies that the approval falls under a limited framework—a significant yet measured step towards integrating DeFi within a regulated financial environment. A Milestone for…
Read More »The 14th edition of the prestigious Global Blockchain Congress (GBC), organized by Agora Group, took place on February 5th and 6th, 2025, at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai. Bringing together top blockchain leaders, investors, and innovators, the event reinforced Dubai’s position as a global hub for Web3 and digital assets. Key Themes and Industry Discussions The conference explored a range of critical topics shaping the blockchain landscape, including: UAE,…
Read More »The UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has appointed His Excellency Waleed Saeed Abdul Salam Al Awadhi as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Effective from February 4, 2025, Al Awadhi assumes his new role with the rank of Under-Secretary. A Legacy of Leadership at the DFSA Prior to this appointment, Al Awadhi served…
Read More »A recent wave of cryptocurrency scams has seen fraudsters impersonating high-profile figures to launch misleading tokens, and the latest targets are investors hoping to capitalize on the ongoing hype around celebrity-backed memecoins. This time, scammers posing as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—who also serves as the country’s prime minister—have launched a fraudulent memecoin dubbed the “Official” Saudi Arabia Memecoin (KSA). The suspicious token made its debut on February…
Read More »Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Investment Company, has disclosed a $436.9 million stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) as of December 31, 2024. The disclosure was made through a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A Landmark Investment in Digital Assets This investment marks one of the most significant crypto-related moves by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, underscoring its growing interest in digital assets. While…
Read More »
