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Bahrain-Based Cryptocurrency Exchange Rain Raises $110 Million

The financial injection provided by the Series B funding round is supposed to help Rain double the number of its employees, which currently sits at 400.

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bahrain-based cryptocurrency exchange rain raises $110 million

After raising $6 million in a Series A led by MEVP in January 2021, Bahrain-based cryptocurrency exchange Rain has another reason to celebrate: the recent $110 million Series B funding round.

Co-led by Paradigm and Kleiner Perkins, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Cadenza Ventures, and others, the round is one of the largest ones for any startup in the Middle East & North Africa.

“We are very excited about this funding opportunity as it allows us to continue conversations with regulators across the MENA region, Turkey, and Pakistan about the benefits and potential of cryptocurrency” stated the co-founding team. “It will also support our overarching mission of providing education and access to cryptocurrency to all of our supported markets”.

Rain was founded in 2017 by Abdullah Almoaiqel, AJ Nelson, Joseph Dallago, and Yehia Badawy. The exchange allows customers from the Middle East to easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. So far, it has processed transactions worth more than $1.9 billion, serving 185,000 users across 50 countries.

rain cryptocurrency exchange dashboard

The financial injection provided by the Series B funding round is supposed to help the exchange double the number of its employees, which currently sits at 400.

Also Read: 5 Gaming Cryptos That Will Explode In 2023

“We believe that Rain is a crucial piece of the puzzle for bringing the Middle East deeper into the new crypto economy” said Casey Caruso, investing partner at Paradigm.

Indeed, the interest in cryptocurrency has been booming across the MENA region, with both individual retail investors and institutions embracing cryptocurrencies as the future of finance.

Dubai, for example, wants to become the world’s cryptocurrency capital by creating a comprehensive ecosystem for cryptocurrencies and providers of related services in the form of a special crypto zone at the Dubai World Trade Center.

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Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost

The tech giant also plans to develop local AI solutions, and train regional talent to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

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google to launch ai hub in saudi arabia aiming for $71 billion gdp boost
Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF)

Google has announced plans to set up a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, a move aimed at accelerating technological growth and economic development across the wider gulf region. The ambitious project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an initiative that champions technology and innovation as central to economic diversification away from the oil industry.

According to Google, the hub has the potential to contribute as much as $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The initiative will likely speed up the adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services — not only within Saudi Arabia but also throughout the wider MENA region and beyond.

Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighted the importance of the project for the Kingdom: “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals,” he explained. Al Rumayyan also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s combination of sector knowledge and long-term investment strategies makes it an ideal environment for global technology partnerships.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

A central aim of Google’s initiative is nurturing local talent. The AI hub will offer a range of training, research, and collaboration opportunities for developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. Google envisions training “millions” of people, helping to create a robust innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and ensures economic benefits reach all segments of society.

As international technology giants increasingly look to develop solutions tailored to regional needs, Google’s initiative reflects a progressive approach that leverages the strengths of local markets. With the potential to inject billions into the economy and strengthen digital capacities, Saudi Arabia could soon emerge as a prominent center for AI innovation in the Middle East.

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