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0 CommentsTop crypto news from the Middle East region over the last week (Oct. 22–28, 2022):
BitOasis with Mastercard rolls out crypto-linked cards in the MENA region
Сrypto platform BitOasis and Mastercard have partnered to launch a series of crypto card programs in the MENA region to enable the use of cryptocurrencies at points of sale and across e-commerce platforms. It will allow BitOasis customers to link their crypto wallet balances to physical or virtual cards and make fiat payments across 90 million locations worldwide.
Saudi Prince becomes Musk’s major shareholder at Twitter
Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on Oct. 28 that he and his Kingdom Holding Company rolled over a combined $1.89 billion in existing Twitter shares, making them the company’s largest shareholder after Musk. Another equity investor, the crypto exchange Binance, confirmed Friday that it put in $500 million.
Microsoft Cloud UAE prepares to offer tools to build the Metaverse
Microsoft Cloud intends to support companies in the metaverse by offering public mixed reality technology integration services, Arab News reported on Oct. 24. Ihsan Anabtawi, COO of Microsoft’s UAE branch, revealed Microsoft views the metaverse through presence and connection in any space to enable people to build connections in the hybrid world. The company aims to engage employees and customers from the workplace in immersive worlds for new experiences, such as assuming the role of a creator and being part of a community.
Anatabwi believes the metaverse is important in bolstering the UAE’s digital and workplace transformation and streamlining operations and business models.
Dubai to open the world’s first metaverse nightclub
A new nightclub, VISION, will launch in Dubai built around the metaverse. Club-goers and crypto-owners can “turn coins into cocktails,” while NFTs will also be available to purchase.
VISION will be located at The H Hotel Dubai and is being brought to the city by Chinese entertainment firm WanTing Group. The club is also partnering with jewelry and watch firm Jacob&Co to launch the Jacob&Co x VISION wristwatch. These will be available to those who purchase the venue’s unique NFTs. An exclusive branded VIP table will also be established at VISION along with other Jacob&Co elements.
The crypto industry in UAE is a tsunami in the making, set to disrupt online commerce in a huge way, expert says
The crypto industry in the UAE is a tsunami in the making, which will disrupt online commerce in a huge way, with the domestic market set to see several Google-Coinbase type partnership deals between the banking, and fintech Web3 ventures, Khaleelulla Baig, founder and CEO of crypto investment platform KoinBasket, told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview.
He also predicted that the Gulf country will emerge as a global capital for the crypto industry in the next five years, with the best of entrepreneurs, venture capitals, and developer communities converging to build and scale globally disruptive crypto projects.
Crypto payments set to soar with ME Jets & HAYVN
HAYVN, a globally regulated digital asset-focused financial institution, has partnered with ME Jets, the Middle East’s luxury jet charter, adding to an already impressive portfolio of clients.
“Partnering with ME Jets ensures HAYVN continues our expansion of crypto payments into the aviation charter and brokerage industry, adding further credibility to our global presence and abilities,” HAYVN CEO Christopher Flinos said.
Turkey has the highest cryptocurrency interest in the Middle East
Turkey has the second-highest number of cryptocurrency-related Google searches in the world, according to a new study by the crypto education platform CryptoManiaks.
CryptoManiaks analyzed monthly Google searches of major cryptocurrencies for the top 100 most populous countries in the world. Turkey had 5,465 monthly searches per 100,000 people. The UAE had 1,571 monthly searches per 100,000 people, which was the 17th most of any country. Israel was 20th on the list with 1,273 searches.
