DeFi Technologies enters MENA market with Dubai launch

DeFi Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: DEFT), a financial technology firm bridging traditional capital markets with decentralised finance (DeFi), has announced a major expansion into the GCC and MENA region through the registration of DEFI DMCC (certification no. DMCC199558). The company’s new office is located in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE.

The expansion also includes the launch of a new trading desk at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) under its subsidiary Valour and Valour Digital Securities Limited, a leading issuer of regulated exchange-traded products (ETPs). This move aims to support the growing institutional appetite for digital assets in the UAE and broader Gulf region.

“As the first Nasdaq-listed digital asset manager of its kind, DeFi Technologies offers equity investors diversified exposure to the broader decentralised economy through its integrated and scalable business model,” the company stated. Valour currently offers access to over 65 digital assets via ETPs and plans to increase this number to 100 by the end of 2025.

This strategic expansion into Dubai follows rising interest in spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) across global and regional markets. The UAE, in particular, has become a hotspot for institutional crypto investment. UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala recently expanded its position in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, underlining a regional trend of allocating capital to regulated digital asset products.

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“ We believe the demand for digital asset ETPs will increase not only globally but in the GCC and Middle East,” said Andrew Forson, president of DeFi Technologies and chief growth officer of Valour. “Investors whether sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, family offices and even retail investors are interested in crypto but require familiar and efficient vehicles to get exposure.”

He added, “Wrapping digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum in regulated financial instruments such as ETPs will increase the number of crypto investors and offer countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia access to international foreign investment. Local and international [investors] get exposure to these assets through trusted providers like the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange, Dubai Financial Markets, and others.”

DeFi Technologies’ vision

DeFi Technologies’ regional expansion builds on its earlier moves in Turkey, where it partnered with Misyon Bank and Misyon Kripto to roll out ETPs, addressing a market where more than 50% of investors already hold digital assets.

In 2024, the company’s subsidiary Valour also partnered with GulfCap Investment Bank (GCIB) to prepare for a proposed cross-listing of its ETPs on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Kenya. This initiative is aimed at enabling East African investors to gain exposure to digital assets through instruments denominated in Kenyan Shillings.

In Europe, Valour’s ETPs are currently available on Xetra, Spotlight, and Euronext, with over 65 fully hedged products offering exposure to a wide range of innovative cryptocurrencies.

With $176.3 billion now under management across global crypto ETPs, and rising interest from institutional investors, DeFi Technologies is positioning itself as a major player in the regulated Web3 investment landscape.