Crypto
Fintech
+4
Jul 17, 2026
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1 min read
Revolut wins in-principle approval from Dubai's VARA to offer crypto services in the UAE
The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority approval covers broker-dealer, exchange, and management and investment services, and lands a month after Revolut completed its Central Bank licensing for payments, stacking a second regulatory pillar under a UAE launch that has yet to be given a date.
Fintech
+4
Jun 18, 2026
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1 min read
Sovra raises $2M+ pre-seed led by Pharsalus Capital to build a self-custodial dollar account for MENA
The round drew angel cheques from the likes of Ramp founder Karim Atiyeh and Lean Technologies founder Hisham Al-Falih, backing a platform that holds user balances in USDC outside the conventional banking system.
News
+3
Apr 28, 2026
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2 min read
Bahrain's Rain acquires Saudi financial media company Digital Ma'arefa in bid to reach one million Arabic-speaking crypto followers
Digital Ma'arefa is a Saudi-based financial media company behind The Finance Memo, Crypto Memo, AI Memo and a broader newsletter and podcast network reaching more than one million followers and over 100,000 newsletter subscribers.
Fintech
+3
Mar 25, 2026
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23 min read
How stablecoins are rebuilding MENA cross-border payments
How stablecoins actually work and why Tether owns emerging markets. The regulatory landscape across Saudi, Egypt, and the UAE. The founders building the pipes, the sovereignty question, and why the window is closing.
Fintech
+4
Dec 5, 2025
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3 min read
CoinMENA acquired by Paribu in up to $240M deal, marking Türkiye’s largest fintech transaction
The Turkish crypto giant gains VARA and Bahrain licenses through its purchase of CoinMENA, expanding regulated operations into the MENA region as consolidation accelerates across digital asset markets.
