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
Binance Blockchain Week 2024 officially began today in Dubai, with Binance’s Head of Regional Markets, Richard Teng, delivering an inspiring keynote address to an audience of over 30,000 attendees and 200 speakers from across the globe. Reflecting the theme of “momentum,” Teng celebrated the advances in blockchain and digital assets, emphasizing that 2024 has been a pivotal year for the industry. His speech set a tone of gratitude toward the…
Read More »According to a recent Bloomberg report, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is evaluating the potential shutdown of Project mBridge, a cross-border CBDC payments platform developed in partnership with the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE. Saudi Arabia joined the initiative when mBridge launched as a minimum viable product in June. Sources indicated that the matter was discussed during last week’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) and…
Read More »Prominent banking group in the MENAT region, Emirates NBD, has expanded its Digital Asset Lab to foster talent in academia through its newly launched Future Leaders Outreach Program. Unveiled at the DIFC Innovation Hub, the program aims to bridge the gap between industry and education by providing students with hands-on learning in digital asset innovation. The Digital Asset Lab, originally launched in May 2023, includes founding members PwC and Fireblocks,…
Read More »As part of the Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH) 2024 Cohort, Blade Labs is making waves in the financial sector by launching Qatar’s first platform for tokenized Murabaha contracts—a breakthrough innovation powered by blockchain technology. This new platform aims to transform the Islamic finance landscape by digitizing the Murabaha process, enabling lenders to reach a wider audience while ensuring compliance with Sharia principles. Blade Labs offers a seamless, Sharia-compliant financing structure,…
Read More »In the competitive world of digital assets, M2 Exchange emerged with great promise, with industry observers and influencers hinting that it could become a key player, possibly even rivaling Binance. However, as the landscape has evolved, M2 has recently made significant shifts in leadership and strategy, prompting questions about its future direction. Leadership Transition Officially Announced In a recent announcement, M2 Exchange officially confirmed a leadership transition. Stefan Kimmel, who…
Read More »Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO), the world’s first Free Zone dedicated to digital asset companies, has introduced the DAO Association Regime (DARe), a pioneering legal framework tailored for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). This initiative strengthens the UAE’s leadership in Web3 innovation and solidifies RAK DAO’s position as a global hub for blockchain and digital assets. DARe offers two distinct models, Startup DAO and Alpha DAO, catering to…
Read More »Emirates NBD, a prominent banking group in the MENAT region, has announced a strategic partnership with Partior, a blockchain-based platform for clearing and settlement, which aims to offer Emirates NBD’s clients around-the-clock availability and faster, more efficient payment flows. Through this partnership, Emirates NBD becomes the first regional bank to join the Partior network, enabling settlement services in UAE Dirham, Saudi Riyal, and Indian Rupee. The bank also plans to…
Read More »During the AIM Summit in Dubai on Monday, Brevan Howard, a leading global hedge fund, revealed that a significant portion of its crypto trading operations is now carried out from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This progress is attributed to the country’s “sensible regulations” and its openness to dialogue with the industry, as highlighted by Ryan Taylor, Group Head of Compliance at Brevan Howard, during a panel discussion on hedge…
Read More »Binance, the global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest crypto exchange by volume, has announced additional speakers for its annual flagship event, Binance Blockchain Week Dubai 2024, set to take place on October 30 and 31, 2023 at the iconic Coca-Cola Arena. Under the theme “Momentum”, this year’s event will bring together the brightest minds in Web3, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and decentralized finance to explore the transformative power of these technologies and…
Read More »The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts today announced the launch of a new suite of digital public services, including the Digital Assets Will. Unveiled at GITEX Global 2024, live demonstrations showcased new service platforms, accessibility, functionality, and security protocol features. A new edition to the current group of Wills Service offerings by the DIFC Courts, the Digital Assets Will empowers individuals to distribute their digital assets using a non-custodial…
Read More »
