Local exchange shapes the experience at Token 2049: Event recap

    The spring got a lively start for the crypto space with the return of a long-awaited event, Token 2049 Dubai. Taking place on April 30 – May 1, the event gathered together prominent industry players and attracted thousands of visitors, turning the emirate into a vivacious Web3 hub. As a platinum sponsor of the event,…

    Dubai taps Crypto.com to enable crypto payments for govt services

    The government of Dubai has signed an agreement with crypto exchange Crypto.com to launch crypto payments for government services. The agreement, formalized during the Dubai fintech Summit on May 12, is part of Dubai’s cashless strategy, which hopes to foster the city’s transition to “a fully digital, cashless society,” by introducing “a new digital payment…

    OKX exec warns against hype amid real-world asset tokenization boom

    The CEO of crypto exchange OKX’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) division has called on the industry to prioritize real-world utility as interest in tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) continues to grow. In a Cointelegraph interview at the Token20249 event in Dubai, OKX MENA CEO Rifad Mahasneh warned that while tokenization is promising, projects must…

    MultiBank, MAG, Mavryk ink world’s largest $3B RWA tokenization deal

    MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution based in Dubai, has signed a landmark $3 billion real-world asset (RWA) tokenization agreement with United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based real estate giant MAG and blockchain infrastructure provider Mavryk. The deal represents the largest RWA tokenization initiative globally to date and highlights the upcoming launch of MultiBank’s native…

    Global demand grows for non-dollar stablecoins, says Fireblocks exec

    Governments outside the US, including Singapore, are increasingly interested in stablecoins not tied to the US dollar, despite their currently limited liquidity, Fireblocks director of policy Dea Markova told Cointelegraph at Token2049. In an exclusive interview, Markova described the competition with dollar-pegged stablecoins as “all about sovereignty.” She compared the situation to earlier tensions between…

    Abu Dhabi institutional giants team up for dirham stablecoin

    A trio of major Abu Dhabi institutions, including the Emirate’s sovereign wealth fund, have teamed up to launch a new dirham-pegged stablecoin. Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ, the United Arab Emirates’ largest bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), and the massive conglomerate the International Holding Company, have partnered to launch the stablecoin, pending regulatory approval,…