Venture capital fund Varys Capital is looking to enter the GCC market, and is working to raise $75 million for its equity fund focused on blockchain innovation. The fund aims to achieve long-term growth from a curated portfolio of high-quality, early-stage businesses utilising blockchain to solve addressable needs in the wider software, gaming, and finance industries.  To govern its entry into the UAE, Varys Capital has secured reputable local services, including Al Tamimi, one of the GCC’s most prestigious law firms, as its primary counsel. According to the press release, the company has received inquiries from local institutions and prominent investors. The fund has 12 commitments in place across decentralised (DeFi) and centralised (CeFi) finance, GameFi/Web3, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Darius Askaripour, Managing Partner, Varys Capital said, “We are looking at entering the UAE market first encouraged by supportive local government directives, its high innovation...

UAE headquartered Fuze, a digital assets infrastructure provider, has raised a seed round of $14mn, the largest Seed investment in a digital assets startup in the history of the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). The investment was led by Abu Dhabi-based Further Ventures, along with participation by US-based Liberty City Ventures.  Fuze will benefit from the strategic capital and network of these investors, acting as a catalyst for the business as it builds the digital asset infrastructure that will drive the future of finance.  A first-of-its-kind infrastructure provider in MENA, Fuze enables any bank, fintech or traditional enterprise to easily offer regulated digital assets products to their customers through their native apps. Fuze was founded by an expert team of fintech, traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) leaders, with its co-founders holding extensive knowledge from experience in global hypergrowth businesses.  CEO, Mohammed Ali ...

  Dubai regulated virtual asset broker and exchange TOKO FZE a creation of international law firm DLA Piper, has partnered with   Virtuzone, a pioneer in business solutions and corporate services for the region. The partnership will include the establishment of a tokenized equity crowd funding platform will further cement Dubai’s standing at the forefront of financial innovative and as a destination for early stage and fast growth companies seeking a supportive business environment. TOKO has just received a fully operational license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA). The partnership with Virtuzone is set to transform early-stage private equity fund raising using blockchain technology to bring enhanced transparency, accessibility, and opportunity for both investors and the businesses seeking to raise funds. Across a variety of compelling businesses, investors will have greater insight, information and access to private equities for their portfolio and ...

  Out of over 100 plus applications, UAE based Aurus, which tokenizes precious metals including gold, silver and platinum using blockchain technology, has been selected as one of the 25 companies that will be joining Dubai’s DMCC ( Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) and TDeFi accelerator program. The accelerator program is aimed towards Web3 and Blockchain companies based out of Dubai offering mentorship, support, and business scaling opportunities.   The acceleration program kicks off on September 5th, 2023, with a range of mentor sessions covering legal and compliance, web3 marketing, fundraising, and token economics. Participants are able to gain practical experience by using their own projects as case studies during workshops on token economics and token markets management. The program culminates in a Demo and Pitch Day, with 20+ venture capitalists and investors serving as judges, representing over $IBn in cumulative AUM. The program’s conclusion is more than just a pit...

  UAE based Illuminati Capital has raised $50 million to invest in early-stage blockchain startups including game companies. According to the news, the Dubai based firm and its partners have individually invested in blockchain startups worth over $1 billion. Illuminati Capital aims to offer more than just financial support. The venture capital firm is dedicated to building the global Web3 ecosystem and driving transformative shifts in decentralized technologies. The team behind Illuminati Capital has collectively deployed $30 million, resulting in exits worth $150 million. Vickaash Agrawal partner at Illiminati Capital stated in an article in Venture Beats, “We are witnessing a remarkable growth trajectory in Web3 venture investing.   With a track record of 120-plus successful blockchain investments in my investment portfolio, I will bring my expertise in data, infrastructure, regulation and mining.” Illuminati Capital’s investment focus spans multiple verticals, i...

    DEX ( decentralized exchange) layer for retail Web3 applications has partnered and received funding from UAE based Cypher Capital VC fund to grow Native’s financial Web3 offering in the MENA region. Native offers a game-changing solution that transforms exchanges into an integrated feature. With Native, any application can swiftly transform itself into a fully functioning exchange, seamlessly integrating top-tier liquidity providers and generating substantial trading fees. This strategic partnership will provide Native with the necessary resources to advance its product development efforts, placing a strong emphasis on flexibility, modularity, and interoperability. Bill Qian, Chairman of Cypher Capital, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to invest in Native, an innovative financial infrastructure layer. Native’s exceptional capability to empower applications to establish their own exchanges in minutes, seamlessly integrate top-...

  Brinc, a leading global venture accelerator, with operations in the UAE has selected 25 promising global startups, launched by a total of 66 founders, for its Summer 2023 cohort under its host of Web3 accelerator programs. Two startups from the GCC region have been selected. The first is UAE AI NFT BentleyRecords.io , an AI-powered music development program dedicated to helping artists grow their career online, offering 35+ tools for music production and distribution was chosen among startups and the second one is Bahrain based Eye Labs, a pioneering platform dedicated to guiding brands into the Web3 realm, simplifying blockchain infrastructure while emphasizing storytelling and user journeying to make the transition more accessible to a wider audience. Brinc's Summer 2023 cohort represents a diverse range of innovative ventures at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies in blockchain, decentralized applications, and peer-to-peer networks. This round is Brinc's third coh...

  In a recent news piece, UAE based 10 Leaves consultancy firms has announced that it is accepting crypto payments. According to the announcement, 10 Leaves, through it’s technology arm Tenl Technologies, has built up excellent capabilities in the blockchain, DeFi and crypto sectors. From fintech advisory, regulatory sandbox consulting to tokenization and legalities of smart contracts, the 10 Leaves Group is poised to advise   clients on blockchain-related implementations and regulatory licensing across DIFC, ADGM, DWTC, DMCC, Bahrain and Europe (Luxembourg and Lithuania). “Dubai has demonstrated it’s vision by focusing on new technologies, and as a consultancy with over 17 years in the business, we aim to complement the leadership’s efforts in supporting entrepreneurs and visionaries who will shape our lives in the years and decades to come”, said Rohit Ghai, Founder of 10 Leaves. “Our crypto-related solutions will help startups and established players in this niche spa...

  South Korean blockchain companies are establishing their headquarters in the UAE, Neoply a blockchain DeFi solutions provider announced that it will be opening its global headquarters, under the name H Lab in Abu Dhabi UAE with the support of Abu Dhabi Investment Office. NEOPLY is joining ADIO's Innovation Programme, which supports the growth of tech-focused industries in the UAE capital. NEOPLY provides a decentralised finance (De-Fi) platform and various services based on blockchain technology. Its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) will be called H-Lab and benefit from the international financial centre's advanced regulatory framework and thought leadership in the virtual assets space. The opening of H-Lab follows discussions between ADIO and Neowiz Holdings, the parent company of NEOPLY, about establishing its blockchain activities wholly from Abu Dhabi and benefiting from ADGM's robust regulatory framework that enables effective blockchain and ...

    UAE based Global Millennial Capital Ltd ("Global"), an emerging technology and digital assets investment manager, and   venture capital firm has launched its Global Millennial Web3 Investment Program , out of UAE which aims to accelerate emerging companies to their full potential in the realm of Web3, DeFi, and Blockchain.   Andreea Danila,   Founder, and General Partner at Global Millennial Capital Ltd., stated, "We are thrilled to announce the launch of our investment program aimed at investing and accelerating visionary technology companies operating in the Web3, Defi, and blockchain verticals, with a specific emphasis on financial services applications, among others. In addition to the typical acceleration program benefits, which include mentorship, hackathons, regulatory sandbox conversations, and strategic ecosystem connections, Global will deploy its resources to enable Series A companies to access various markets across the Middle East and Africa...

  In Ripple’s latest report entitled “ 2023 New Value report, Crypto Trends in Business and Beyond” which covered topics such as cryptocurrencies, tokenization, DeFi, and crypto custody, financial decision makers from MENA ( Middle East and North Africa) are more bullish than their counterparts in other regions when it comes to cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and Blockchain. As per the report findings, 72% of finance leaders surveyed expressed increased confidence in the crypto industry over the last 6 months, the number is even higher for those in the MENA region, reaching 87%. 90% of global finance leaders anticipate big impacts on business from blockchain and digital assets in the next three years. In terms of tokenization,they see the most massive impact in public stock trading and private share trading. This was especially expressed by finance decision makers with cryptocurrency experience in MENA. In addition, global finance decision makers predict CBDCs and stableco...

  The senior advisor of Saudi Central Bank   Anthony Butler   for blockchain, AI and digital assets recently posted   on LinkedIn new job positions opening up in Riyadh KSA. The roles he mentioned included sSoftware engineers with hands-on experience working with DLT  ( Distributed Ledger Technology) protocols and applications. According to Butler the role requires someone with experience implementing solutions using tech such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Besu, Hyperledger Fabric, and/or R3 Corda.” He adds   these talents should particularly   be knowledgable of solutions involving tokenisation of real world assets. The job applicant should understand the functional and non-functional aspects of designing such solutions and be able to work with broader engineering teams to lead design and implementation. Understanding of DeFi and emerging areas, such as self-sovereign identity. Also required are software engineers/full-stack developers at all levels ...

      UAE Cypher Capital is one of the investors in Concordia, a multi-chain risk and collateral management protocol for digital assets. Concordia closed a successful $4 million seed round in June, attracting significant investments from Tribe Capital, Kraken Ventures and UAE based Cypher Capital among other investors including Saison Capital.  Concordia’s vision is to create an interconnected, permissionless, and optimized DeFi ecosystem that promotes accessibility, affordability, and developer-friendly environments, ultimately unlocking the true transformative potential of DeFi. Concordia’s ground-breaking solution attracted the attention of leading Dubai VC Cypher Capital, who are building their portfolio into one of the leading web3 centric portfolios globally. Bill Qian, Chairman of Cypher Capital said “Concordia represents a significant milestone in the evolution of decentralized finance. As Chairman of Cypher Capital, I am thrilled to be part of this...

    The Saudi Venture Capital (SVC) has invested $30 million in the $150 million Bedaya Fund II, managed by UAE Shorooq Partners to back early-stage startups with a focus on fintech, digital assets, Web3, Metaverse, DeFi, and other areas. At the launch of Bedaya Fund II, in a press release Shane Shin founding partner at Shorooq Partners stated,   “We have always been early movers, be that robo-advisory, crowdfunding, SME lending, open banking, card issuer processing, and so forth. We believe Web 3.0 models like DeFi, NFT, Metaverse are going to be the key players in the next iteration of online business.” Bedaya Fund II is an early stage venture capital fund managed by Shorooq Partners. The fund is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and invests in Northern Africa, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan. The fund targets investments in the fintech and software sectors. On Pitchbook they benchmark the Bedaya II fund against EchoVC Cha...

  Web3 tokenized indices investment startup, nealthy, which recently raised $1.3 million, has set up its headquarters in Dubai UAE. nealthy provides index tokens that replicate the structure of classic exchange-traded funds (ETFs). By storing multiple digital assets in on-chain vaults, building a diversified portfolio, and issuing an underlying indicator token. The first token will be called $nNFTS (which retains its real value through a peg to recognized blue-chip NFTs), nealthy is lowering the barriers to entry and opening the floodgates of digital asset investment to people around the world. The leadership team of CEO Ludwig Schroedl, CTO Zied Said, and CMO Tim Pascual said that Dubai-based operations would help expand to a crypto-friendly region renowned for its forward-looking strategies. “We are thrilled to announce our move to new corporate headquarters in Dubai. From the standpoint of Dubai’s robust investment market to its renown as a hub for innovation, tourism, colle...

  The UAE Central Bank has issued its long awaited virtual assets and virtual assets service provider framework under the umbrella of a new guidance on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) for licensed financial institutions (LFIs) with a focus on the risks of dealing with virtual assets. The actual document is more telling than the initial press release . In reality the UAE Central Bank has clarified what is considers as virtual assets and who can offer services in this realm, as well as how banks and financial institutions will work with VASPs when it comes to opening accounts for them and meeting compliance requirements. It also makes clear that virtual assets are not considered a legal tender in the UAE. Now a lot has been made clear. Earlier this month, there was a position for a Fintech virtual assets senior manager job at a UAE Bank who was required to be specialized in Fintech and virtual assets compliance from a finance crime perspe...

  South Korean blockchain developer WEMIX and Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create and accelerate growth opportunities for their respective portfolio companies and Web3 startups. WEMIX startups will have the opportunity to join Hub71’s community of over 200 startups and gain access to its range of value-add programs and incentives. Select startups will also benefit from the ability to scale globally through Hub71’s web3 and digital assets specialist ecosystem, Hub71+ Digital Assets, to unlock access to a host of programs, initiatives, and wide network of corporate, government and investment partners in the UAE and global markets.   At the same time, startups within Hub71+ Digital Assets will be able to leverage the deep technical knowledge and expertise of WEMIX and its parent, Wemade, in different areas of blockchain technology including GameFi and DeFi. “Developing strong partnerships with key stakeholders ...

    Anthony Butler, the Chief Technology Officer for IBM MENA region who was based out of KSA, and is a blockchain, AI, metaverse expert has joined Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) as a senior advisor. He announced the new position on LinkedIn saying, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Senior Advisor at Saudi Central Bank – SAMA! As a senior advisor to SAMA I will be focused on   first of a kind applications of emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technologies, quantum, and advanced cryptography in support of payments innovations (such as CBDC, stable coins, and tokenization), transformation of Suptech/Regtech, green finance,   open finance, decentralized finance (DeFi), and cybersecurity. Anthony Butler had spent 15 years as chief technology officer for IBM in the Middle East and Africa working in emerging technologies, with a specific focus on the application of artificial intelligence, blockchain and metaver...

    UAE’s latest digital asset and Web3 free zone in Ras Al Khaimah, RAK DAO, has appointed James Bernard at its Chief Commercial Officer. Bernard has been working in the digital asset blockchain sector since 2015. In the UAE he worked within Dubai’s DMCC and later on as an advisor to several Web3 blockchain entities within the UAE. James will be responsible for all commercial activities, the implementation of business strategies and the development of partnerships, supporting entrepreneurs, innovators, and businesses across new and emerging tech sectors, digital assets, and web3, metaverse, AI, NFT, DApp, AI, blockchain, tokenization as well as many others.   He was a founding member in 2015 of the Global Blockchain Council in Dubai, and leading DMCC’s Crypto strategy, developing early proof of concepts for various Web 3.0-powered ventures including Diamond Track and Trace, and property leasing applications, while also launching crypto asset licenses and making sig...