Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
ECM Blockchain, founded by Bangladeshi entrepreneur Tanvirul Islam Prince, is the country’s first blockchain initiative with global scale. With a mainnet launch in Q4 2025, live ecosystem projects, and an active ICO, ECM aims to deliver scalable, low-cost infrastructure for trade, supply chains, finance, and Web3 innovation.
UAE-based Lunate has partnered with hedge fund giant Brevan Howard to establish a $2B investment platform in ADGM, focusing on macro and digital assets. The deal also includes Lunate acquiring a minority stake in Brevan Howard, further expanding its hedge fund exposure while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global financial hub.
Algeria enacts a comprehensive cryptocurrency ban, criminalizing all related activities to reinforce financial system control and combat illicit funding. Violators face imprisonment and hefty fines under the new law.
Binance’s regional head Bader Al Kalooti discusses the company’s 20% MENA growth, regulatory licenses, halal crypto products, education initiatives, cybersecurity measures, and expanding institutional partnerships across the Gulf’s youthful, tech-savvy population.
Rakbank is the UAE’s first conventional bank offering crypto trading directly via its app, in partnership with Bitpanda. This regulated service allows seamless crypto transactions in AED, simplifying access and reflecting a major step in digital asset adoption in UAE banking.
PayPal’s new crypto payment functionality empowers businesses to reach a vast digital asset user base, facilitating seamless and instant crypto transactions while offering merchants innovative financial options amid a tough economic backdrop.
BurjX secures FSRA license to become UAE’s first fully regulated digital asset brokerage platform, offering 100+ tokens, instant AED funding, and institutional-grade custody.
Pakistan’s crypto minister’s historic meeting with El Salvador’s president initiates “Biplomacy,” focusing on Bitcoin cooperation. The signed LOI opens avenues for collaboration on digital asset policies, education, and financial inclusion, aligning with Pakistan’s expanding digital asset regulation and innovation efforts.
Pakistan’s Crypto Minister Bilal Bin Saqib meets El Salvador’s President Bukele to formalize Bitcoin cooperation via a Letter of Intent, pioneering “Biplomacy” and advancing tech-driven bilateral crypto engagement.
Quid Miner’s mobile app removes technical barriers, enabling users to earn cryptocurrency conveniently through cloud mining with just a smartphone.