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Binance Is Helping Dubai Become The World’s Crypto Capital
The goal is to create a special crypto zone and provide assistance to crypto-related businesses that are interested in becoming licensed in Dubai.
Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, has recently signed a deal with the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) to create an ecosystem for cryptocurrencies and other global virtual assets.
“With the MoU, Binance will help advance Dubai’s commitment to establishing a new international Virtual Asset ecosystem that will generate long-term economic growth through digital innovation” said the Binance team in a statement. “Binance believes that Dubai’s new agenda will contribute to the growth of the global economy”.
To achieve this goal, Binance and DWTCA want to create a special crypto zone and provide assistance to crypto exchanges, businesses that offer blockchain, and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) services that are interested in becoming licensed in Dubai.
Because Dubai doesn’t want to associate itself with illegal activity, DWTCA will additionally act as a regulator and enforce investor protection standards, as well as anti-money laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) laws.
At this point, we don’t know when the crypto zone will become operational. Binance and DWTCA have so far only signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines their shared vision, but many technical and regulatory details have certainly yet to be worked out.
Also Read: 5 Gaming Cryptos That Will Explode In 2023
The project could be affected by the large regulatory pressure Binance is currently facing from regulators around the world.
For example, the Dutch central bank accused it of not complying with AML and CFT laws, the US Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service is probing the exchange to investigate money laundering and tax offenses, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has banned the Binance Group from operating in the UK, and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a warning to consumers, stressing that the company isn’t licensed to conduct regulated activity in Hong Kong.
It’s possible that Binance, which describes itself as a decentralized company with a global presence and whose corporate structure is opaque at best, is interested in establishing the crypto zone in Dubai to create a safe haven for itself.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.