CoinMENA, a Bahrain-based soon-to-launch cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it has acquired a crypto assets services company license from the Central Bank of Bahrain to help regional investors access cryptocurrencies. The exchange is certified by the Shariyah Review Bureau.
According to the official announcement, CoinMENA met all the technical, operational and security requirements outlined by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The firm is planning to offer services in 5 major crypto assets at the start including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin.
CoinMENA will serve retail and institutional clients along with an OTC Desk for large transactions and a dedicated relationship manager. The exchange will provide services to the residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.
“Obtaining the license from the Central Bank of Bahrain allows us to operate under one of the most robust and globally-renowned digital assets regulatory frameworks where governance, security and customer protection are central to all our operations. As CoinMENA grows, we will be providing access to additional digital assets and expanding the jurisdictions we operate in, with the view of becoming one of the leading digital assets exchanges on a global scale,” Dina Sam’an, Co-founder and Managing Director of CoinMENA, said in the official press release.
The Middle East and Crypto
The cryptocurrency firms around the world are targeting the Middle East for global expansion. FortuneZ earlier reported about an announcement by Ripple to open its regional headquarters in Dubai. The central banks in the region are working closely on joint projects related to central bank digital currencies. The recent issuance of a license by the Kingdom of Bahrain shows that the regulatory authorities are planning to remove uncertainties regarding the regulatory status of crypto assets in the region.
“Getting certified as Sharia-compliant is another milestone in CoinMENA’s dedication to client excellence and becoming the leading blockchain and digital assets company in the MENA region,” Sam’an said.
(Photo: Philippe Leroyer via flickr)
