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Qareeb Partners With Pantheon For GCC Bitcoin Mining Expansion
The edge data center provider has teamed with the Bitcoin mining leader in a bid to expand regional mining facilities and strengthen digital infrastructure.
The Middle East’s first edge data center provider, Qareeb, has joined forces with Pantheon, a global leader in Bitcoin mining services, to expand mining operations across the GCC. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), laying the groundwork for a strategic collaboration that will also strengthen the region’s digital infrastructure.
Under the agreement, Qareeb will take the lead in securing prime locations for Pantheon’s Bitcoin mining facilities, strategically placing them near Qareeb’s existing and upcoming data center sites. Beyond site acquisition, Qareeb will also handle the construction and operational setup of the facilities, ensuring they are fully equipped and supported with engineering, security, and facility management services.
Annemarie van Zadelhoff, Chief Strategy Officer at Qareeb, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “Partnering with Pantheon represents a significant opportunity for Qareeb. By leveraging our expertise in turnkey project management, site acquisition, permitting, and operations, we are proud to ensure Pantheon’s facilities are fully fitted, operational, and supported by our 24/7 regional team. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to building a future-ready digital infrastructure and setting new standards for innovation and resilience in the region”.
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Nick van Houtrijve, COO and Founder of Pantheon, emphasized the strategic nature of this expansion: “Pantheon’s expansion into the GCC is a strategic milestone as we continue to set new benchmarks for operational efficiency and performance. This partnership with Qareeb enables us to establish robust infrastructure in one of the fastest-growing Bitcoin mining markets globally”.
Finally, Jim Niemeijer, Head of Business Development at Pantheon, added: “With Qareeb’s unparalleled regional expertise and our capabilities, we are confident in delivering value to our investors and clients. Together, we’re creating a blueprint for the future of digital finance”.
The Qareeb and Pantheon collaboration marks a significant step in advancing Bitcoin mining capabilities in the Middle East, and will certainly help GCC countries to position themselves as global Bitcoin and crypto mining hubs.
News
Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
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