DeFi Technologies has expanded into the MENA region by launching DEFI DMCC in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Towers. Along with a new trading desk under Valour at DMCC, the firm aims to meet growing demand for regulated crypto ETPs in the UAE and Gulf. The move supports broader access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets for regional investors.
DeFi Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: DEFT), a leading financial technology company, has officially entered the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market by opening a new office in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai. The new company in the UAE, named DEFI DMCC (certification no. DMCC199558), marks a major step in the firm’s growth across the region.
As part of this move, DeFi Technologies has also launched a new trading desk under its subsidiary companies, Valour and Valour Digital Securities Limited, inside the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). Valour is known for offering regulated exchange-traded products (ETPs) that give investors access to digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The goal of this expansion is to meet the rising demand for crypto investments in the UAE and the larger Gulf region. Many institutions in the area are showing growing interest in digital assets. For example, the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has recently expanded its investment in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF. This trend shows how investors in the region are moving toward regulated digital asset products.
According to the company, DeFi Technologies is the first Nasdaq-listed digital asset manager of its kind. It allows equity investors to gain exposure to the decentralised economy through a business model that is both scalable and fully integrated. Valour currently offers more than 65 digital assets through its ETPs and aims to increase this number to 100 by the end of 2025.
Andrew Forson, President of DeFi Technologies and Chief Growth Officer of Valour, said that demand for digital asset ETPs is growing both globally and across the GCC region. He explained that not only big investors like sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors, but also family offices and individual investors, want to be part of the crypto market. However, they prefer doing so through trusted, regulated financial tools like ETPs.
Forson also stated that wrapping crypto assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum into regulated investment products makes it easier for more people and countries—like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman—to access international crypto investments. These investments can be made through trusted exchanges such as the Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange.
This new presence in Dubai builds on DeFi Technologies’ earlier work in Turkey, where Valour partnered with Misyon Bank and Misyon Kripto to introduce ETPs in a market where over half of the population already owns digital assets.
In 2024, Valour also partnered with GulfCap Investment Bank (GCIB) to work on a cross-listing of its ETPs on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Kenya. This plan will allow East African investors to invest in digital assets using financial products priced in Kenyan Shillings.
In Europe, Valour's products are already available on exchanges like Xetra, Spotlight, and Euronext. The company offers over 65 fully hedged products that provide secure access to a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
Today, the global market for crypto ETPs has grown to over $176.3 billion. With more interest coming from large institutions, DeFi Technologies is working hard to become one of the top players in the regulated Web3 investment space, both in the MENA region and around the world.
