Middle East

Exchanges

Shariah-Compliant Crypto Exchange Wins License From Bahrain Central Bank

Tanzeel AkhtarJan 25, 2021

Launching soon, CoinMENA said it will offer spot trading in five major cryptocurrencies.

Coinbase

Coinbase Joins $6M Funding Round for Licensed Middle-East Exchange Rain Financial

Tanzeel AkhtarJan 18, 2021

The $6 million Series A round was led by Middle-Eastern VC firm MEVP Capital.

Hamas

Israeli Seizure Order Shows Hamas Holds USDT, TRX, DOGE

Danny NelsonJul 7, 2021

The wallets, 84 in all, show the terrorist group has diversified its holdings far beyond bitcoin.

Ripple

Ripple Opens Dubai HQ as Blockchain Firm Mulls Leaving US

Daniel PalmerNov 8, 2020

The blockchain company's new Middle East and North Africa headquarters will be within the DIFC financial hub.

Middle East

What It’s Really Like to Live on Bitcoin in the Middle East

Leigh CuenJul 14, 2020

The story of a Syrian migrant in Iraq shows how bitcoin can work as intended – as a global currency that transcends borders.

Middle East

Lebanon

The Truth About Bitcoin and Hezbollah in Lebanon

Leigh Cuen

Will Hezbollah in Lebanon use bitcoin? The data suggests terror activity is uncommon despite surging crypto popularity across the Middle East.

Lebanon

How Bitcoin Fits Into Lebanon’s Banking Crisis

Nate DiCamilloLeigh Cuen

Lebanon's crisis has been raging for years, but the devaluation of the Lebanese pound and a global downturn has made stable financial services even more urgent.

Mining

Iran Issues License for Nation’s Biggest Bitcoin Mining Operation

Sebastian Sinclair

A Turkish firm has been granted a license to operate a data center with up to 6,000 bitcoin mining machines.

Consensus: Distributed

Bitcoin in Emerging Markets: The Middle East

Leigh Cuen

Regions with weak states and educated diasporas are seeing a rising demand for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and decentralized applications.

Middle East

Despite Bitcoin Price Dips, Crypto Is a Safe Haven in the Middle East

Leigh Cuen

Bitcoin fell 40 percent this week from coronavirus shocks, but it's still seen as a safe haven in the Middle East.

Podcasts

How Bitcoin Is Used to Promote Human Rights: Stories From Activists and Refugees

Leigh Cuen

CoinDesk reporter Leigh Cuen is joined by the Human Rights Foundation’s Alex Gladstein and Syrian entrepreneur Moe Ghashim to discuss how cultural context shapes the way people view bitcoin, including stories from the Middle East.

Middle East

Palestinian Militant Group Has Received 3,370 Bitcoins in Donations Since 2015: Report

Paddy Baker

The report from an Israeli organisation claims the group used bitcoin to avoid sanctions, offer a degree of anonymity to donors and enable cross-border money transfers.