As of Q2 2025, more than 4,000 blockchain companies were registered in the Kingdom – a 51% increase year on year, according to Gulf Articles. Riyadh alone accounts for 62% of that total, with 2,463 companies based in the capital. The sector now ranks among the 23 most popular industries in Saudi Arabia and has attracted a 38% surge in foreign and GCC investor interest over the same period.

The growth ������’t incidental – Vision 2030’s digital transformation mandate, the Capital Market Authority’s licensing framework for crypto exchanges, and the Ministry of Communications’ active engagement with have created a regulatory environment that is more welcoming to blockchain businesses than most markets in the world.

That clarity is attracting companies building across the full spectrum: enterprise infrastructure, digital asset custody, Web3 gaming, NFT marketplaces, cross-border payments and tokenisation.

��

What Is Driving Saudi Arabia’s Blockchain Boom?

��

The clearest driver is regulatory intent. Saudi Arabia has made an intentional choice to position itself as a rather than a cautious observer. The CMA has licensed regulated crypto exchanges. The Ministry of Communications has issued licences for NFT platforms. Riyad Bank’s blockchain arm has partnered with Ripple for cross-border payments and tokenisation infrastructure. These are institutional signals, not fringe activity.

There is indeed a tangible market need. Saudi Arabia’s large expatriate population creates significant cross-border payment volume. The government’s push toward digital financial infrastructure under Vision 2030 creates procurement demand for enterprise blockchain solutions. And a young, digitally engaged consumer base provides the audience for Web3 entertainment and NFT products that have struggled to find mainstream traction in older markets.

��

The Top Blockchain Companies In Saudi Arabia

��

From Web3 gaming and to institutional custody infrastructure and regulated exchanges, here are the companies leading Saudi Arabia’s blockchain sector in 2026

��

1. Astra Nova

��

Astra Nova is one of the most ambitious Web3 companies to emerge from the Kingdom, raising $48.3 million in October 2025 to build an AI-powered Web3 entertainment platform.

The Riyadh-based company is behind Saudi Arabia’s first Web3 action RPG and has built AI-powered no-code blockchain tools that allow content creators to build and deploy their own without needing to write smart contracts. The scale of the funding round – one of the largest for a Saudi Web3 company – reflects investor confidence in the thesis that entertainment and AI-assisted creation will drive mainstream blockchain adoption in the region.

��

2. Oumla

��

Founded in 2022, Oumla provides enterprise-grade digital asset custody and tokenisation infrastructure for banks and government entities.

The company raised a $2.4 million seed round in September 2025, led by Core Vision and Avalanche, and has positioned itself as the institutional layer that large Saudi organisations need to engage with digital assets in a compliant, auditable way.

Tokenisation of real estate and financial assets is one of the clearest near-term commercial applications of blockchain technology in the Kingdom, and Oumla is building the custody and settlement rails that make it operational.

��

3. Nuqtah NFT

��

Nuqtah holds a distinctive position as Saudi Arabia’s first Ministry of Communications-licensed NFT platform, launched in 2021.

The company has attracted investment from Animoca Brands and Polygon – two of the most and Web3 space globally – as well as a Cardano accelerator investment in 2025. Being first to market with a licensed, regulated NFT platform in the Kingdom has given Nuqtah a head start in a market where regulatory clarity is a genuine competitive advantage.

��

4. Rain

��

Rain is the primary regulated crypto exchange serving Saudi Arabian users, operating with a Capital Market Authority licence and supporting transactions in Saudi Riyal.

Bahrain-headquartered but operating as the leading regulated crypto gateway into the Saudi market, Rain occupies a position of significance as the Kingdom’s crypto adoption grows. CMA licensing – which requires compliance with KYC, AML and capital requirements – gives Rain a regulatory moat that unlicensed alternatives operating in the market cannot match.

��

5. Blockchain Solutions

��

Blockchain Solutions has been building enterprise blockchain applications from Riyadh since 2011, making it one of the longest-established players in the Kingdom’s blockchain space.

The company develops custom smart contracts, decentralised applications and tokenisation solutions for enterprise clients across Saudi Arabia. Fifteen years in the market predates much of the now in place, and Blockchain Solutions has built deep client relationships across the private and public sector that newer entrants will find difficult to replicate quickly.

��

6. Jeel (Riyad Bank)

��

Jeel is the blockchain and digital asset innovation arm of Riyad Bank, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest financial institutions.

In late 2025, Jeel announced a partnership with Ripple to build cross-border payment infrastructure, custody solutions and tokenisation capabilities on behalf of the bank.

The involvement of a major Saudi bank’s institutional arm signals that blockchain infrastructure has moved from an experimental category to a strategic investment priority for the Kingdom’s established financial sector.

The post Top Blockchain Companies In Saudi Arabia appeared first on 91̽��.

The data points in both directions. A BVNK survey of 4,658 stablecoin holders found that 77% would open a stablecoin wallet if their bank or fintech offered one – a number that indicates appetite while also confirming that trust in traditional financial institutions hasn’t been displaced. A PNC survey of treasury leaders found the biggest barrier to adoption wasn’t regulatory uncertainty or unclear ROI. It was a knowledge or skill gap, cited by 29% of respondents. And an EY survey found that 73% of organisations still cite regulatory clarity as a key obstacle, despite the progress made in the UAE and EU.

��

Where The Optimists And Sceptics Actually Agree

��

Beneath the competing narratives, there’s a point of consensus: stablecoins work, right now, for in corridors where traditional banking is expensive, slow or unreliable.

Sub-Saharan Africa, LATAM, South East Asia – routes where the World Bank estimates average remittance costs of 6.4%, well above the UN’s 3% target. In those corridors, stablecoin rails that bring costs down to between 0.5 and 1.5% aren’t a theoretical improvement. They’re a structural one.

The harder argument is everything beyond that – domestic transactions in markets with mature card infrastructure, retail merchant acceptance, consumer-facing B2C payments where chargeback rights matter, tax and accounting clarity for businesses not built around crypto. Those are the areas where the ‘revolution’ framing starts to strain – and where the most honest voices in this piece, on both sides, tend to agree that the technology is ahead of the operational infrastructure surrounding it.

We put the questions to seven experts across fintech, payments, legal and operations.

��

Our Experts

��

• Vitaly Mikhailov: Founder and CEO, EasyStaff
• Andrew Nalichaev: CEO, HAIA
• Diego Martin: CEO, Yellow Capital
• Mazyar Torkpour: Founder, Paymento
• Safi Ghauri: Managing Partner, Esquare Legal
• Mark Stevenson: Senior Product Manager, Stove Shield
• Eliot Vancil: CEO, Fuel Logic LLC

��

��

Vitaly Mikhailov, Founder and CEO, EasyStaff

��

��

“Bank transfers to certain corridors have become unreliable. For companies managing contractors in 120 countries, the traditional correspondent banking model creates delays, fees and failures that add up to real operational risk. Stablecoins are becoming mainstream payroll infrastructure not because they’re ideologically interesting but because, in certain corridors, they’re simply more reliable. The MENA, LATAM and parts of the US market have all shown us that stablecoins work – they’re faster, they’re traceable and the costs are predictable in a way that wire transfers often aren’t.”

��

Andrew Nalichaev, CEO, HAIA

��

��

“W������ is in cross-border payments from emerging countries. SME exporters who sell goods and services outside of Nigeria, Argentina, or the Philippines experience an average loss of between five and eight percent of every transaction because of the differences in currency rates, fees and long settlement delays. The World Bank’s most recent report on remittance costs indicates the global average cost is currently around 6.4 percent, with various routes through Sub-Saharan Africa well over eight percent. By using stablecoin rails, the total cost to send cross-border payments can be reduced to between 0.5 and 1.5 percent.

“But the optimist scenario ignores four difficult challenges. The on-chain transaction volume figures relate mainly to exchange-to-exchange settlements, not merchant transactions. Settlement time does not mean the transaction is final at the point of sale. For smaller domestic merchants, when you add a true stack – on and off-ramp friction, KYT screening, reconciliation tools – the total cost of ownership is between 1.5 and three percent, which is Stripe territory. And chargebacks are not natively available in stablecoins, which is a significant barrier for any B2C business.

“What needs to take place is to stop selling stablecoins as an entire payments revolution. Stablecoins are a settlement primitive – one layer below the merchant. The real return on investment will sit in the orchestration layer above the merchant: compliant routing, automated FX, reconciliation and aggregated off-ramps.”

��

Diego Martin, CEO, Yellow Capital

��

��

“A lot of the talk around stablecoins misses how actual businesses operate day to day. For most companies, they are simply trying to solve unglamorous, expensive problems such as settlement delays, brutal cross-border fees, and the friction of moving money between markets.

“At Yellow Capital, we are seeing real interest from businesses and payment providers who want faster, more flexible ways to move liquidity globally, particularly across regions where traditional banking still creates delays and operational friction. LATAM, Africa, and South East Asia come up most often, where remittances and settlement lags cause real pain on the ground.

“Most current financial infrastructure is not built for this shift, so the work begins at integration. The businesses actually winning with stablecoins right now are doing it in the background, for treasury and settlement. They’re keeping it focused entirely on operations, not turning it into a public statement. Most of their customers have no idea stablecoins are even involved. That is exactly what sustainable adoption looks like.”

��

Mazyar Torkpour, Founder, Paymento

��

��

“The stablecoin payment experience is genuinely better than most people expect on the technical side. Fees are low and settlement is fast, especially for cross-border transactions that would normally take days and cost a high percentage of your transaction value. Merchants who switched to stablecoins are usually surprised by how smooth the rails are once everything is set up.

“Many merchants are facing frustrations due to the amount of education their customers need. A majority of customers do not currently have a wallet set up or do not have the confidence to make a stablecoin transaction. Additionally, many merchants do not understand that accounting and tax reporting for stablecoin payments is much more manual than they thought.

“What I would tell a business owner thinking about making the switch: start with a specific use case where stablecoins solve a real problem for you, whether that is cross-border payments, avoiding chargebacks, or reaching a . Do not try to replace your entire payment stack on day one. The revolution is real, but it is happening use case by use case, not all at once.”

��

Safi Ghauri, Managing Partner, Esquare Legal

��

��

“Since we’re in the crypto industry, almost all of our payments are in stablecoins. When moving from fiat to stablecoins, the most remarkable feature was the instant nature of transactions and the traceability – just one transaction hash and complete visibility. I’ve never experienced again the previous pains of waiting or confusion about the nature of funds.

“The hard part is the off-ramp to fiat where it’s needed. We’re cross-border and every jurisdiction has different concerns – lengthy KYC in the US, poor order-book rates in Brazil, recording and reporting requirements in Germany. But the UAE makes it extremely easy. For stablecoins to reach peak velocity they need to become part of digital neobank services, and I am certain they would then replace fiat.”

��

Mark Stevenson, Senior Product Manager, Stove Shield

��

��

“The stablecoin payment revolution is not very successful at transaction stability since the conversion values change, which adds hidden operational expenses. Manufacturers need flat pricing to enable consistent supply of materials – many digital assets often move by one percent until they’re deposited in traditional bank accounts. These small differences eat away at margins over thousands of transactions each day.

“ are not yet equipped with the necessary infrastructure for scalable business operations. Legacy payment rails scale to process more than 50,000 transactions per second without dropping data packets. Digital asset ledgers are less effective in handling volume during peak shopping hours, and payment processing terminals may be subject to software bugs that can cause them to remain frozen for hours.”

��

Eliot Vancil, CEO, Fuel Logic LLC

��

��

“For the most part, the businesses that are using stablecoins are addressing a payment issue they don’t truly need to resolve. The traditional ACH or card networks settle in one to two business days at a cost that most domestic operators can handle. The stablecoin case really starts to move in places where banking access is low or there’s real cross-border friction.

“Any savings on a back-end accounting, tax reporting and reconciliation load will usually be eaten up before they appear. Dispute resolution systems, which commercial operators rely on, have yet to be established for stablecoins. Traditional card networks handle around $40 billion in disputed transactions annually with a definite programme and a liability structure. Stablecoin transactions are inherently irreversible and if a payment is disputed, the business bears the loss with no official channel to report the transgression.”

��

For any questions, comments or features, .

��

The post Stablecoins Are Going Mainstream – What Do The People Actually Using Them Think? appeared first on 91̽��.

Across travel, dining, corporate finance and AI payments, the true story unfolding right now is one of commerce. Stablecoins are becoming the infrastructure of how money moves, and the shift is happening faster than most people realise.

in 2026, specifically to bring stablecoin settlement rails into its global network. Amazon’s AWS has built AI agent payment infrastructure using USDC, allowing autonomous systems to pay for APIs and services in fractions of a cent. The UAE approved AE Coin – an AED-pegged stablecoin – as the region’s first regulated payment stablecoin under its 2024 Payment Token Services framework.

These initiatives aren’t speculative crypto wagers; they’re foundational infrastructure investments driven by leading global financial institutions.

��

What Is A Stablecoin?

��

A stablecoin is digital currency pegged to a stable asset, usually the US dollar and held on a blockchain. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, it doesn’t fluctuate in value day to day. One USDC is worth one dollar. One AE Coin is worth one UAE dirham. The peg is maintained through reserves of cash or short-term bonds, which are audited regularly.

The blockchain element is what makes them operationally interesting. Transactions settle in seconds rather than days, can happen 24/7 without bank clearing windows and don’t require intermediaries at every step.

USDC (Circle) and USDT (Tether) are the two largest stablecoins by volume and together process hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions each year. According to the IMF, which endorsed their potential in 2025, stablecoins can deliver faster and cheaper payments across borders than the correspondent banking system currently does.

��

Where They’re Already Being Used

��

The use cases have officially moved well beyond crypto trading.

Travellers across Europe and Asia are booking flights and hotels via platforms like Travala using USDC and USDT, bypassing foreign exchange fees entirely. Restaurants in Dubai and other crypto-forward cities let customers split bills through apps like BitPay, settling instantly without card processing delays. Freelancers in emerging markets are receiving salaries in stablecoins to avoid slow or expensive local bank transfers.

According to survey data cited by payments research firm DodoPay, roughly 20% of global users now use stablecoins for daily expenses, compared to around 5% in 2022. That’s a huge four-year leap, showing a clear shift in who’s using them. This is no longer a crypto-native audience – it’s people choosing a practical payment tool because it’s faster and cheaper for a specific need.

��

The Infrastructure Making It Possible

��

The institutional layer’s rapid maturation is proven by three recent developments.

Mastercard’s acquisition of BVNK brings stablecoin settlement rails directly into one of the world’s largest card networks, with tokenised payments expected to run alongside traditional cards by 2027. It’s the biggest proof yet that traditional banking is embracing stablecoins rather than fighting them.

Amazon Web Services has taken it a step further. Its AgentCore Payments system, built on USDC via Coinbase and Stripe, allows AI agents to autonomously pay for APIs and services – micropayments as small as fractions of a cent, executed without human intervention. This is a category that didn’t exist two years ago and is now built into one of the world’s most widely used cloud platforms.

In the Gulf, the UAE’s Central Bank approved AE Coin as the first regulated AED-pegged stablecoin, operating under Payment Token Services rules. That regulatory approval matters because it creates legal certainty for businesses using stablecoins for local payments; something that remains missing in most Western markets. regulation has been one of the clearest globally, and it’s attracting the companies building in this space.

��

Why Using Stablecoins For Payments Is On The Rise

��

The timing ������’t accidental. Several things converged. The IMF published guidance in 2025 endorsing stablecoins as a tool for improving cross-border payments, lending institutional credibility to a category that had spent years fighting a speculative reputation.

The UAE’s Payment Token Services Regulation, effective August 2024, created one of the world’s most complete stablecoin licensing frameworks. In the US, a more crypto-receptive regulatory environment under the Trump administration accelerated institutional adoption.

On the technology side, the cost of running transactions on newer blockchains has dropped dramatically, and interoperability protocols now allow stablecoins to move across different networks without friction. That combination – regulatory clarity arriving at the same moment as the infrastructure becoming cheap to use in practice – is what turned stablecoins from an interesting experiment into a commercial reality.

��

What Stablecoin Use Means For Businesses And Founders

��

For businesses processing cross-border payments, stablecoins cut fees by 50 to 80% compared to the Swift correspondent banking system, according to ledger analytics firm LedgerInsights. Settlement is near-instant rather than taking two to three business days. Those are material operational advantages, particularly for companies operating across multiple currencies or markets.

For anyone building a global product, stablecoin rails remove one of the most persistent friction points: the banking infrastructure problem. A startup handling Africa-to-Europe remittances, or a SaaS platform running AI agent workflows, can build on stablecoin payment infrastructure without needing banking relationships in every jurisdiction. The that costs UK SMEs alone hundreds of millions every year is exactly the kind of friction stablecoin rails are designed to remove.

��

What Is Next For Stablecoins And Digital Payments?

��

The biggest near-term development is likely to be the integration of stablecoins with central bank digital currencies. Rather than competing, the two are being designed to work together – stablecoins handling the commercial layer, CBDCs providing the sovereign settlement layer underneath. in Europe is partly about making sure the government builds the basic foundation so private stablecoins can safely operate on top of it.

AI agent payments are the other trend to watch. If autonomous systems are going to transact on behalf of businesses – paying for compute, data, services and tools without human sign-off on each transaction – they need a payment rail that works at machine speed. Stablecoins are the obvious candidate – Amazon has already built it and others will follow.

Stablecoins started as a way to park crypto profits without cashing out. They’re evolving into something far more impactful: the settlement layer for a significant chunk of global commerce. The infrastructure is in place and the regulatory frameworks are arriving. The question now is who builds on top of it.

The post Forget Cash And Cards – Stablecoins Are Becoming The New Way The World Pays For Things appeared first on 91̽��.

��

The biggest AI governance blind spot is unclear accountability. Many organisations have ethical AI policies, but few assign real ownership for AI risk in practice. That leaves executives exposed to systems that may be biased, insecure, or non-compliant without their knowledge. The fix is to make governance operational: name a senior owner for AI risk, map where AI is used, apply consistent risk assessments, and require ongoing monitoring and reporting. When accountability is explicit, boards can see who is responsible for decisions and outcomes before regulators do.

��

So who actually owns AI risk in a company, and what happens when no one does?

��

Ownership of AI risk should sit with a senior executive – often a Chief Risk Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, or a specially designated AI risk lead – supported by cross-functional teams from legal, IT, product, and compliance. When no one owns AI risk, accountability becomes diffuse. Decisions fall through the cracks, regulatory requirements may be missed, and operational failures can escalate without intervention. For executives, this means that if something goes wrong, responsibility may default to the C-suite, creating personal liability and reputational damage even if they weren’t directly involved in AI decisions.

��

Can you share examples of decisions or failures in AI governance that could have serious consequences for executives personally?

��

Executives could face serious consequences in cases such as deploying AI systems that make discriminatory decisions in hiring or lending, failing to secure sensitive customer data processed by AI, or releasing models that operate without sufficient testing or transparency. Even a seemingly minor oversight – like failing to document how a high-stakes AI model was trained or monitored – can expose the company to regulatory fines, legal action, and public backlash. In some jurisdictions, regulators are explicitly looking at board accountability for AI governance, meaning executives could be personally questioned or sanctioned if failures are traced back to a lack of oversight.

��

Why do so many companies think their AI policies are enough – and why could that false sense of security threaten careers?

��

Many organisations believe a written AI policy satisfies regulatory or governance requirements, but a policy is just a statement of intent. It doesn’t ensure processes are followed, risks are assessed, or decisions are auditable. Executives who rely solely on policies risk being blindsided when regulators or boards ask for evidence of operational governance. A false sense of security can leave leadership unprepared to answer questions about accountability, compliance checks, or risk mitigation measures, putting careers at risk when the gap is exposed publicly or in regulatory reviews.
��

How are boards starting to ask about AI governance, and why is it suddenly a top-of-mind question for executives?

��

Boards are increasingly aware that AI systems are strategic assets that carry legal, ethical, and reputational risks. They are now asking executives not just whether AI is being used responsibly, but who is accountable for AI risk, how risk is assessed, and whether processes are in place to catch failures before they escalate. This focus has intensified as regulators begin to draft AI-specific compliance frameworks and high-profile AI incidents make headlines. For executives, AI governance is a board-level concern that can influence decision-making and oversight scrutiny.

��

If an executive hasn’t addressed AI governance, what questions might a board or regulator ask that could expose them?

��

Boards and regulators are likely to ask questions such as: Who is responsible for AI risk in this organisation? How do you ensure your AI systems are compliant with emerging regulations? What procedures exist to detect bias, security vulnerabilities, or unintended consequences? Can you demonstrate auditable trails for critical AI decisions? If executives cannot answer these questions with evidence of operational governance, they risk being seen as negligent, which could lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties, or personal accountability in jurisdictions where executives are expected to oversee AI risk.

��

What’s the single most urgent action a C-suite leader should take today to avoid being caught out on AI governance?

��

The most urgent action is to assign clear ownership of AI risk at the executive level and ensure that this ownership comes with defined responsibilities, processes, and reporting mechanisms. This includes mapping all AI initiatives, implementing structured risk assessments, and establishing audit trails for AI decision-making. Once responsibility is explicit and governance processes are operational, executives can demonstrate accountability to boards and regulators, reducing both organisational and personal risk.

The post Interview With Michael J Bannach, Founder & President Of Stealth Technology Group On AI Governance Blind Spots Putting Bosses’ Jobs At Risk appeared first on 91̽��.

The sanctions freeze all UK-linked assets and prohibit UK banks, regulated and individuals from transacting with the platform. For a marketplace that operated as an escrow-style service connecting vendors selling stolen personal data, scam-centre technology and money-laundering services to Southeast Asian fraud networks, this is about as decisive a regulatory blow as the UK can deliver.

Xinbi didn’t emerge from nowhere. The UK action follows earlier sanctions against the Prince Group, which triggered over £1 billion in asset freezes and the closure of hundreds of scam centres, and came alongside a March 2026 FBI and Thai operation that froze approximately $580 million in crypto linked to US-targeting fraud gangs.

The Cambodia-based #8 Park scam compound, reportedly capable of housing up to 20,000 trafficked workers, was also sanctioned as part of the same action. This ������’t a marginal enforcement decision. It is one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on illicit crypto infrastructure in history.

What makes this significant beyond the headline numbers is the mechanism the UK used. The FCDO imposed these sanctions under its Global Human Rights regime, targeting on-ramps and off-ramps (exchanges, custodians, payment processors) rather than just individual bad actors. Any transaction routed through UK-regulated entities now becomes a compliance violation, forcing immediate delistings and wallet blacklisting. A previous UK sanction against BYEX, another crypto platform designated in 2025, effectively forced that service offline despite being physically hosted abroad.

The message to the is unambiguous: UK regulatory reach extends to infrastructure, not just individuals.

��

The Blast Radius Is Bigger Than The Target

��

Enforcement actions of this scale have a collateral impact that legitimate crypto businesses need to understand clearly.

When regulators demonstrate willingness to pursue infrastructure intermediaries, including platforms that claim to be neutral connectors, the compliance bar for everyone in adjacent territory rises sharply. KYC protocols, transaction monitoring and customer due diligence are no longer a box-ticking exercise for ; they are the difference between being able to operate and being caught in the blast radius of a designation.

The short-term effect is uncertainty. High-profile enforcement actions tend to prompt regulators to signal heightened expectations without immediately providing the operational guidance that businesses need to meet them.

For founders navigating that gap, the instinct to wait for clarity before building compliance architecture is a risk. Regulators are now demonstrating that they are prepared to move first and articulate standards later, and being caught flat-footed at that point is a company-ending problem, not a paperwork problem.

The longer-term effect is arguably positive, though it doesn’t always feel that way in the immediate aftermath. Removing operators like Xinbi from the ecosystem levels the competitive environment for companies that have invested in governance and licensing.

If the dominant narrative around crypto shifts from ‘lawless corner of finance’ to ‘increasingly governed asset class’, that benefits credible builders more than it harms them. The question is whether founders are positioned to make that case to investors, partners and regulators before the next enforcement action changes the terms again.

��

What This Changes For Founders Building In Crypto And Web3 Right Now

��

The realistic implications for founders are more specific than the general ‘compliance matters’ message that tends to follow enforcement news.

The UK’s targeting of infrastructure, including on-ramps, off-ramps and escrow-style services, indicates that regulators are thinking about the crypto market as a connected system of nodes, and that any node which enables illicit flows, even indirectly, is a potential target.

For founders building marketplace-style products, payment rails, data intermediaries or any service that sits between users and assets, this should be read as a direct signal about the level of scrutiny their product architecture will face.

The underlying point is that sustainable crypto businesses are increasingly those that can demonstrate transparent controls, clear jurisdictional scope and audit-ready processes from the start.

We asked experts what this enforcement action means for the founders trying to build legitimately in its shadow.

��

Our Experts:

��

• Peter Vas, Partner, Spencer West LLP
• Ian Griffiths, Founder, Surff
• Aman Chahal, Industry Professor – Innovation and Entrepreneurship

��

��

For any questions, comments or features, .

��

��

Peter Vas, Partner, Spencer West LLP

��

“The Xinbi enforcement action represents one of the most significant interventions against illicit cryptocurrency-enabled infrastructure to date, which should be viewed as a constructive development for legitimate market participants. Robust enforcement removes actors who have benefited from regulatory evasion and other wrongdoing, thereby levelling the playing field for firms that invest meaningfully in .

“Whether this accelerates regulatory clarity will depend on how supervisory authorities follow through. High-profile actions often prompt regulators to articulate their expectations with greater specificity, particularly around custody, onboarding and transaction-monitoring standards. However, they can also create short-term uncertainty if relevant authorities signal heightened expectations without providing corresponding operational guidance. Web3 businesses can mitigate this by treating compliance as a core design principle, rather than a reactive obligation.

“For founders building in Web3 today, the message is clear: regulatory scrutiny is intensifying, and sustainable businesses will be those that can evidence transparent controls, jurisdictional discipline, and audit-ready processes from the outset. Innovation alone is no longer sufficient, and credibility now requires demonstrable compliance architecture from day one.”

��

Ian Griffiths, Founder, Surff

��

“Enforcement actions like this are often seen as a double-edged sword for the crypto and Web3 ecosystem. In the short term, they can create uncertainty and slow momentum. But on balance, they tend to strengthen the foundations of the industry by removing bad actors and reinforcing trust – something credible builders ultimately benefit from.

“From Surff’s perspective as an early-stage startup, this shift is both necessary and welcome. Our mission is to create a , one where individuals have control, transparency and the option to monetise their digital footprint. That vision depends on trust, and trust depends on clear, effective regulation.

“However, regulation must strike the right balance. It cannot be so heavy-handed that it stifles innovation or deters new entrants who are trying to build responsibly. Instead, it should be accompanied by a broader mandate to actively support ecosystem growth, particularly in areas that directly impact users.

“One critical gap today is the lack of simple, safe and accessible off-ramps. If users are to earn rewards for their participation, they need frictionless ways to realise that value in the real world. Without this, the promise of Web3 risks falling short at the final step.”

��

Aman Chahal, Industry Professor — Innovation and Entrepreneurship

��

“Regulations in fields like crypto act like a filter, separating credible projects from weaker ones and giving clarity to an industry that has often struggled to draw that line itself. When regulators engage with the fundamentals rather than simply reacting to the most visible incidents, it creates a cleaner operating environment for the builders who are doing things properly.

“Regulatory clarity in crypto specifically will arrive faster than in most sectors. Its adoption is now close to certain, and its competition has largely been – institutions that have revealed significant blind spots in responding to distributed, borderless finance. In trying to force crypto into regulatory stasis, many financial institutions have found themselves playing catch-up.

“Most builders in this space are actively seeking exactly the kind of clarity, standards and guardrails that enforcement actions like this help to establish. It makes the sector safer. The founders who understand that are the ones positioned to benefit from what comes next.”

��

For any questions, comments or features, .

��

The post The UK Just Shut Down A $20 Billion Crypto Black Market, What Does That Mean For Legitimate Crypto Startups? appeared first on 91̽��.

On St. Patrick’s Day, as 2 million spectators flood the streets of New York City, , a digital dollar issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, is taking over Times Square. The brand activation combines synchronised digital billboards with a street-level campaign designed to introduce digital dollar payments to a mainstream audience. The activation coincides with the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the world’s oldest and largest, drawing more than 150,000 marchers through the heart of the city.

The campaign will feature coordinated imagery across several of Times Square’s most recognisable digital screens, culminating in a synchronised share-of-voice takeover that transforms multiple screens into a single, unified visual, showing how digital dollars move between people in an instant. At street level, brand ambassadors will distribute 25,000 promotional postcards throughout Times Square and along the parade route, inviting passersby to scan a QR code to download the Rumble Wallet and claim $10 in ������₮, free, right from their phone. The activation kicks off at 10 AM ET and ends at 11:59 PM ET.

The activation reflects a growing shift in fintech marketing toward experiential campaigns that translate complex financial technology into tangible consumer experiences, using high-traffic cultural moments and large-scale digital displays to capture public attention.

The mechanic is simple by design. Scan. Download. Receive. It is the same technology that already moves money for more than 550 million people worldwide, now available to anyone walking through Times Square with a smartphone in their pocket.

Stablecoins are blockchain-based digital dollars designed to maintain a stable value while enabling instant, internet-native payments between digital wallets. They combine the price stability of traditional currency with the speed and programmability of blockchain networks.

“������₮ builds on the principles that made USD₮ the most widely used stablecoin in the world,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Today, USD₮ is used by more than 550 million people globally, helping move digital dollars across the internet instantly and reliably. ������₮ brings those same foundations to a new audience, making it easier for people to experience how digital dollars can function in everyday life.”

“Times Square on St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most electric environments in the world,” said Bo Hines, CEO of Tether ������₮. “We are not just running ads, we are handing people the future of money and letting them use it on the spot. This activation invites people to experience the next generation of money right on their smartphones. By pairing digital billboards with a dynamic street activation, we are turning a complex technology into something people can see, experience, and use for themselves.”

Digital dollars no longer require a tutorial. They require an opportunity. Large-scale activations like this have become an increasingly common strategy for fintech and technology brands looking to bridge the gap between digital infrastructure and mainstream awareness – and ������₮ is making that bridge as short as a QR code scan.

������₮ is a digital dollar designed to maintain a 1:1 value with the U.S. dollar while enabling instant digital payments through blockchain networks. Send it, receive it, spend it – globally, in seconds, using compatible wallets and applications**. Moving money should feel as simple as sending a message. With ������₮, it does.

-This is a paid press release published via TechNewswire-

The post ������₮ Turns Times Square Green With St. Patrick’s Day Brand Activation Introducing Digital Dollar Payments appeared first on 91̽��.

Travel companies and booking platforms now allow customers to pay for flights, hotel rooms and activities using digital currencies. Travala reports that in 2025 more travellers than ever are using cryptocurrencies to book hotels, flights and activities. The company says digital assets have become a popular payment option worldwide because they offer convenience, flexibility and borderless transactions.

At Travala, for example, travellers can book more than 3 million travel products across 230+ countries and pay with Bitcoin and over 90 other cryptocurrencies. The booking process works much like any other online travel site. Users choose their travel product, enter their details and select from payment options that include credit cards, debit cards, BTC and dozens of other cryptocurrencies. Travala also offers a 2% giveback in its AVA rewards token on every accommodation booking.

You can use more than just one coin a lot of the time, such as Bitcoin, Lightning Network payments, Solana, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, USDC, Polygon, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Coin and XRP. This to choose from a number of different digital assets at checkout.

��

Which Platforms Actually Let You Pay With Crypto?

��

These travel services accept crypto payments:

��

Travala

��

��

bookings for stays, flights and activities. It says: “At Travala.com, we offer more than 3,000,000 travel products in over 230 countries available for purchase with BTC.” Customers can pay with Bitcoin and more than 100 other cryptocurrencies. The booking process mirrors any other online travel site. You search, enter your details, select Crypto as your payment method, then complete the reservation from your wallet.

��

BitPay

��

��

BitPay acts as a payment processor. According to its FAQ, “Popular travel companies like airBaltic, Cielo Aviation and PrivateFly directly accept crypto at checkout via BitPay.” It adds: “Using crypto on hotels, airlines and vacations is easy with BitPay. At checkout, select BitPay as your payment method. Then simply complete the transaction like you would any other method of payment.” You can also buy gift cards for Hotels.com and Airbnb through the BitPay app, or use the BitPay Card with any travel agency that accepts card payments.

��

��

LockTrip

��

��

LockTrip advertises over 2 million places in close to 200 countries. It lists supported coins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, BNB, XRP, USDC, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Solana and more. The pitch is clear: “Explore, book, and pay for your hotels with crypto, and embark on your next adventure with LockTrip.”

��

Trustee Travel – Trustee Plus Ecosystem

��

��

Trustee Travel says it enables users to worldwide and pay online with cryptocurrency. Through partnerships with hotel groups such as Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Conrad and Bvlgari, it advertises lower prices. It claims savings “can reach up to 60% compared with popular booking platforms such as Booking or Airbnb.” It also offers “a 4% discount when paying via the Trustee Plus wallet.”

��

Is It Legal And Safe To Use Crypto For Travel?

��

Paying with crypto for a hotel room is not the same as trying to avoid regulation. Travala explains that the Crypto Travel Rule “is a global standard to combat money laundering and terrorism financing by requiring Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to collect and share personal information about the sender and recipient of a crypto transaction.” It clarifies: “It is not to be confused with or related to travel booking or payments for travel services.”

For travellers, this can mean an extra identity check if your transaction crosses a set threshold. Travala notes that the rule often applies to transfers above $1,000 or €1,000, though the US uses $3,000. The company says that compliant platforms operate with what they refer to as “complex, yet invisible, compliance mechanisms” in the background.

There are to using crypto, it seems. Travala claims crypto can cut intermediary and foreign exchange fees “typically 4-7%” by up to 90%, with transaction fees in the range of $0.01 to $3 and 24/7 global settlement.

So, if you hold Bitcoin, USDC or another supported coin, you can book flights and hotels today. You just need a compliant exchange or wallet, enough crypto to cover the bill, and a platform that accepts it. The checkout page does the rest.

The post Can I Book Flights And Hotels With Crypto? appeared first on 91̽��.

What probably ������’t in most people’s minds, is that it’s something you can use to book your next flight to Europe or tickets to that upcoming festival.

In fact, an entire ecosystem is emerging, allowing ordinary people to use crypto as a form of payment. Think travel, events, experiences, accommodation. It’s certainly worth knowing about, right?

��

How Did We Go From Speculation To Spending?

��

In the early days of Bitcoin, using crypto as a payment method was usually one of false starts. A merchant would announce that they accepted Bitcoin, only to abandon it a couple months down the line. Why? Because hardly anyone used it and the price volatility meant a headache for the accounting department.

In theory, the technology was there yet in practice, it was slow and clunky – just not quite feasible.

Fast forward a few years and things have come a long way. For a start, payment infrastructure dramatically improved. The solved a lot of the volatility problems, given that they are pegged to the value of traditional currencies.

And, probably most importantly, the number of people who had significant amounts of crypto were at the point where a real market of people wanting to spend it began to formulate.

Some surveys show that up to 22% of US travellers are interested in paying for travel with crypto, while Europe and Asia are also seeing the rapid adoption.

��

The UK May Have Fewer Holders, But They Have Bigger Wallets

��

A 2025 report from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed that 8% of UK adults currently own crypto which is roughly 4.5 million people. The number came down from 2024 where it was 12%, converting to 7 million people. It seems like that drop wouldn’t be good for the sector but in reality, that ������’t quite the case.

The FCA noted that while small-value holdings were on the decline, large-value holdings were doing the opposite. Put simply, the casual dabblers in crypto were dropping off but those holding more are left, and are more likely to be financially comfortable crypto users willing to spend it on something meaningful.

Something that is also interesting is the split in what UK crypto holders actually own. , the most commonly held asset. Ethereum takes second place at 43% and 21% hold Solana.

Does Bitcoin’s dominance matter? It does concerning the travel and booking space specifically because it’s the most widely accepted. The majority of platforms will accept Bitcoin, even if they are more selective regarding everything else.

��

��

��

��

The Platforms Leading The Crypto Charge

��

for what a crypto-first travel booking platform looks like when it’s done correctly. The platform enables users to pay for travel anywhere in the world using more than a hundred cryptocurrencies or traditional payment methods.

It even has a loyalty token called AVA which, when you use to pay, can unlock up to 10% cashback in Bitcoin or AVA tokens for eligible members. For those who travel frequently, it’s a pretty compelling proposition.

Alternative Airlines, on the other hand, takes a slightly different approach. They integrate with payment providers to allow travellers to pay for flights across six hundred airlines. The advantage here is that if you want to fly on a specific carrier, there is a good chance that Alternative Airlines can make it happen while letting you pay in crypto.

��

The Next Frontier For Events And Entertainment

��

Aside from travel, the events and live entertainment space is also undergoing a transformation. In fact, crypto payments and blockchain ticketing are solving some longstanding problems.

If you have tried to buy a concert or festival ticket in the UK, you would be familiar with how the secondary market works. The tickets will sell out in minutes and then reappear on resale sites. The actual artists and event organisers see none of that secondary revenue and fans end up paying exorbitant amounts for tickets they can’t even verify.

But, NFT-based ticketing platforms use dynamic QR codes and blockchain verification make it much harder to exploit duplicated tickets. Any entry is validated by checking that the ticket genuinely belongs to the person holding it and hasn’t been used before.

��

Are People Actually Using Crypto To Book Things?

��

The answer is – yes. There is a large group of people out there who have accumulated crypto as an investment and actually want to use it for something.

There is a psychological distinction between using something that has appreciated compared to spending pounds out of your salary. That makes it easier to spend crypto on things such as travel or concerts that one might otherwise feel guilty for splashing out on.

Paying with crypto also makes things significantly easier and international travellers. Moving money across countries and dealing with multiple currencies as well as foreign transaction fees can all be largely eliminated by using crypto. Having one digital wallet that works everywhere is a godsend.

And lastly, it can benefit people who simply value their privacy. Those who don’t feel comfortable sharing their card details with third parties and being at risk of payment fraud. It’s a modern reality yet payment with Bitcoin benefits from blockchain security where every transaction is recorded and resistant to fraud.

So the next time you’re booking a holiday or event, it might be worth checking whether your Bitcoin can do the job.

The post Booking A Trip Or Concert? You Could Pay With Bitcoin appeared first on 91̽��.

Overall deal numbers were low, but large transactions shaped the market, particularly in AI, fintech, and crypto. UK-based crypto and cloud infrastructure firm PS Miner raised $350 million, showing that investors are still interested in digital assets.

Nicole Lowe, UK Head of Emerging Giants at KPMG in the UK, said, “The crypto and digital assets space continues to grow in interest in the UK — and elsewhere. Specifically, stablecoins have been a really hot topic of conversation over the last six to twelve months or so from a UK perspective. Draft legislation from a crypto perspective is expected to land in 2026, so I think that will really drive a renewed interest in this space.”

UK venture capital also increased to $6.2 billion in Q3’25, rebounding after a weaker second quarter. Rapyd Financial raised $500 million, and PS Miner secured $350 million. Conor Moore, Global Head of KPMG Private Enterprise, said, “The cautious optimism we saw last quarter has shifted to . Companies that IPO’d earlier are performing well, and more recent listings have also delivered strong results. Overall, the outlook feels very positive.”

��

What Factors Are Influencing Investment Decisions?

��

Investors are taking more time to examine deals because of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. Startups are focused on stretching their cash and showing clear paths to profitability. European governments are supporting critical infrastructure, such as semiconductor manufacturing, to keep investment and innovation in the region.

Cleantech startups also received large funding rounds. Iceland-based aquaculture company Laxey raised $183 million, Germany’s 1KOMMAS got $175 million, and Sweden’s Aira secured $174 million. These investments show that sectors tied to energy transition continue to attract venture capital.

In the Nordics, raised sizeable amounts. Finland-based IQM received $320 million for quantum computing, and Sweden’s Aira obtained $174 million for heat pump development. Even in quieter deal periods, tech and crypto projects are still drawing attention.

��

What Is Said To Happen With Crypto Investment In 2026?

��

The UK’s crypto sector is expected to grow as new legislation takes effect in 2026. Stablecoins and other digital asset projects could see more funding. Moore added, “Sector-wise, little has changed — AI remains the hottest vertical, defensetech continues to attract strong interest, and fintech has had an excellent year, well beyond crypto. Looking ahead to Q4’25 and into 2025, all indicators point to continued strength.”

With investors continuing cautious but targeted financing, crypto and digital assets may become a larger part of European venture portfolios once regulations offer clarity and confidence.

This data comes from KMPG’s Q3 Venture Pulse Report. Not much was mentioned in the Q4 report, which raises the question of where exactly crypto is headed this year.

For now, let’s have a look at which VCs are actively investing in crypto…

��

Innovating Capital

��

��

Founded in 2017, Innovating Capital is a deep-technology and digital-asset venture firm backing the next generation of crypto and Web3 infrastructure. The firm manages approximately $220M in committed capital and invests from Seed through Series A in blockchain protocols, decentralised finance, tokenised credit, and the tooling that sits beneath institutional adoption of digital assets.

Operating with a “first‑to‑find” mentality, Innovating Capital is highly thesis‑driven and sources the vast majority of its nearly 50 investments proactively, rather than waiting on inbound deal flow. The team focuses on markets that demand deep technical expertise, including crypto and Web3 infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise software, and AI, and is recognised for a hands-on, outbound model that reserves significant follow‑on capital to support winning companies through multiple rounds.

In crypto specifically, Innovating Capital has been early to many of the ecosystem’s core building blocks, exposure across assets and infrastructure such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Chainlink, Uniswap, Injective, and Archblock, alongside real‑world-asset and tokenisation plays like Pineapple Financial. Founder and General Partner Anthony Georgiades leads the team at Innovating Capital and also operates as a blockchain builder himself, as co‑founder and CEO of Lumera Protocol and a board member at Pineapple Financial, giving the firm an uncommon investor‑operator vantage point on how institutional crypto markets are evolving across cycles.

��

��

AlbionVC

��

��

��

��

AlbionVC is a leading venture capital firm managing approximately £1 billion, with a 30-year track record of backing category-defining B2B software, deeptech and healthtech companies. In the digital assets sector, AlbionVC distinguishes itself through a high-conviction thesis focused on institutional-grade infrastructure and the critical rails bridging traditional finance and the crypto economy.

Led by Partner Jay Wilson, the firm avoids consumer trends to target B2B companies solving the sector’s hardest problems: compliance, risk management, and banking access. This strategy is exemplified by their portfolio, including Elliptic, OpenTrade, and Agio Ratings.

They view the UK’s regulatory environment and as a unique launchpad for global leadership in the space, specifically supporting visionary founders who are building the trust and transparency required for mass institutional adoption.

��

Improbable

��

��

Founded by Herman Narula, one of the UK’s most prominent and successful deep-tech entrepreneurs, Improbable invests in and creates startups at the forefront of crypto, blockchain and AI. Backed by leading investors such as A16z and SoftBank, the company focuses on solving complex technical challenges by combining capital with deep operational support, shared infrastructure and experienced leadership in the emerging crypto/blockchain sector. Rather than acting as a passive investor, Improbable works alongside founders to build, launch and scale ambitious ventures in this space, while ensuring long-term control and intellectual property remain with the companies themselves.

Its portfolio includes a growing number of crypto-native ventures, such as Somnia, [SOMI], a high-performance Layer-1 blockchain engineered for real-time, Otomato, a DeFi assistant, alongside platforms powering decentralised ecosystems. Improbable’s model is designed to accelerate innovation and mainstream adoption of crypto technologies. Crypto and DeFi is a space Improbable is going harder on in 2026 as it looks for new investments.

��

Foresight Ventures

��

��

Foresight Ventures is a global, crypto-native venture capital firm investing across the cryptocurrency, blockchain, and broader Web3 ecosystem. Foresight Ventures connects the best of Eastern and Western crypto ecosystems through research-driven approach and strategic presence in the US and Singapore. The firm backs both early-stage and growth-stage companies building core infrastructure, decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols, digital asset platforms, blockchain gaming, NFTs, and emerging consumer applications shaping the next generation of the internet.

Foresight Ventures invests across a wide range of crypto and Web3 sectors, focusing on projects with strong technical foundations, clear real-world use cases, and scalable business models. Its blockchain infrastructure investments include Layer-1 and Layer-2 networks, interoperability protocols, developer tooling, and security solutions. In decentralised finance, the firm supports lending, trading, derivatives, asset management, and on-chain financial services.

Foresight Ventures is closely linked to digital asset research and media initiatives, positioning it not only as but as an active participant in the industry’s development. With investments across Asia, Europe, and North America, the firm maintains a global outlook, driven by the belief that blockchain technology will fundamentally reshape financial systems and digital infrastructure worldwide.

The post VCs Investing In Crypto In 2026 appeared first on 91̽��.

January was the first time in 5 months that UK inflation came up. That has led many people to look at alternatives to cash savings. Crypto is seen as one option to spread risk across different assets.

AI has entered this space in a noticeable way. Bitpanda UK found that 19% of Britons have used AI to help make decisions about cryptocurrency instead of depending only on established information sources. In the 18 to 34 year old group, that number goes up to 39%. A risk of exclusively using AI for crypto advice is that is is possible to fall for crypto and online, without the proper due diligence which is always recommended to be undertaken before investing anything.

��

How Much Do Users Trust AI Tools?

��

Trust in AI advice is high, because of those who used AI for crypto decisions, 74% said the information was trustworthy. Within that group, 28% rated it as very trustworthy, according to Bitpanda UK.

Users are not for one task alone. The research shows that 30% use it to learn basic concepts. A further 26% ask for help understanding technical terms, and the same share use it to research cryptoassets and trends. Around 25% request investment ideas or strategy input, and 23% want help on how to buy, sell or store cryptoassets.

Bitpanda UK reported that 19% of those who have used generative AI for crypto have used it to create or analyse smart contracts. That moves AI from an educational tool into something that shapes direct participation in crypto markets.

Kevan Edgerton, UK Director at Bitpanda, said: “Britons are becoming more proactive about how they manage their money, especially in a climate where inflation has put real pressure on household finances. However, what’s particularly striking is the growing role AI is playing in how people learn, research, and make decisions.

“Whilst AI can be a powerful tool for improving financial understanding, it shouldn’t replace proper research or trusted sources. It’s important to thoroughly research and assess the risks before making any financial decision.”

His comments show a tension. People value quick answers and tailored explanations, but the risks in crypto have not gone away.

What Is The Regulator Doing About Crypto Risks?

��

The FCA updated its proposals in December, with the article last updated on the 2nd of this month. It is asking for views on new proposals as the next step in shaping the UK’s crypto rules. The aim is an open, sustainable and competitive crypto market that people can trust.

said it wants a market where innovation can thrive but where people understand the risks. It made clear that regulation cannot and should not remove all risk. Instead, anyone investing in crypto should do so with their eyes open.

Its consultation covers admissions and disclosures for listing cryptoassets, measures against insider trading and manipulation, standards for trading platforms, and requirements for intermediaries. It also looks at staking, lending and borrowing, and decentralised finance. On stablecoins, it said UK issuers will not be able to pass interest from their own backing assets to holders.

David Geale, executive director for payments and digital finance at the FCA, said: “Regulation is coming and we want to get it right. We’ve listened to feedback, and now we’re setting out our proposals for the UK’s crypto regime.

“Our goal is to have a regime that protects consumers, supports innovation and promotes trust. We welcome feedback to help us finalise these rules.”

The consultation closed on Thursday last week. In the meantime, the FCA reminds consumers that crypto is largely unregulated, except for financial promotions and financial crime purposes.

AI tools are not regulated as financial advisers in this context. That leaves individuals carrying the responsibility. , digital habits and easy access to AI explain why many continue to turn to it for crypto advice. The rules are coming, but the appetite for quick digital guidance is already embedded in how people manage their money.

The post Why Is The UK Still Turning To AI For Crypto Advice? appeared first on 91̽��.