Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Fasset has partnered with ADI Foundation to deliver regulated onboarding and fiat connectivity for blockchain services built on ADI Chain, including future Dirham-backed stablecoin use cases. The collaboration supports institutional adoption of compliant digital asset infrastructure in line with the UAE’s evolving regulatory and digital finance framework.
e& UAE will integrate AE Coin, the UAE’s first dirham-backed licensed stablecoin, into its payment systems, enabling customers to pay telecom bills and access digital services via regulated blockchain transactions. The partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank supports faster settlements, transparency, and secure mass-market digital payments.
Mastercard has formed new blockchain alliances in the Middle East, including a collaboration with the ADI Foundation, to advance stablecoin payments and asset tokenization. New partners NEO PAY and INFINIOS are adopting stablecoin settlement, expanding faster, compliant digital payment options across the regional financial ecosystem.
UAE telecom operator e& is piloting AE Coin, a dirham-backed stablecoin, for everyday payments such as bills, recharges, and digital services following a partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank. The initiative signals growing regulatory-backed adoption of stablecoins in the UAE’s consumer and financial ecosystems.
Paribu has acquired CoinMENA for $240 million in Türkiye’s largest fintech transaction and its first international digital asset platform deal. The acquisition gives Paribu regulated access to MENA through licenses in Dubai and Bahrain, strengthening its regional expansion strategy. The deal highlights growing consolidation in the global crypto industry and positions Paribu as a major regulated player across Türkiye and the Middle East.
Beyon Money has launched live stablecoin-powered cross-border payments through a new partnership with global money transfer operator SwiftX. Using blockchain-based settlement, the solution enables faster, cheaper, and more transparent international transactions while reducing foreign exchange and operational costs. The collaboration strengthens Bahrain’s fintech ecosystem and positions Beyon Money as a regional leader in next-generation digital payment infrastructure.
Beeline Kazakhstan has begun building a Tier III hyperscale data centre in Almaty to power the country’s sovereign cloud, AI, and enterprise digital services. The facility will offer a wide range of cloud services for SMEs, ensure data sovereignty, and support AI and blockchain growth. It is set to go live by the end of 2026.
Paribu’s acquisition of CoinMENA reshapes the regional crypto landscape. It combines Türkiye’s leading digital asset platform with MENA’s most established regulated exchange, creating a powerful multi-market operator with deep compliance credentials, strong technology, and a wide user base—setting a new benchmark for digital asset growth across both regions.
Across the Gulf, grassroots Web3 communities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Bahrain are driving real adoption through meetups, hackathons, and hands-on collaboration. These gatherings lower barriers, deepen skills, and connect developers with institutional players, making them a powerful force shaping the region’s next wave of digital innovation beyond regulation and investment.
Saudi Arabia has partnered with major European crypto exchange WhiteBIT to build national blockchain infrastructure, including stock market tokenization, CBDC framework development, and national data computing centers. The strategic cooperation, backed by Royal Holding, aligns with Vision 2030 and strengthens Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a regional blockchain and digital finance leader amid rapid industry growth and increasing global competition.