CoinMENA

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How Tether.io became the 7th largest buyer of US treasuries in 2024 For years, Tether was unjustly a target of FUD attacks and branded as an “offshore, unregulated, a ticking time bomb.” Now, it’s a key player in extending U.S. dollar hegemony, with over 350 million users, and doing more to bank the unbanked than any bank on a global scale. How? Network effects. Network Effects (noun): A phenomenon where the value of a product or service increases as more users adopt it, creating a positive feedback loop. Tether has mastered this. It’s the most profitable company per employee, generating almost $14 billion in profit in 2024, surpassing BlackRock over the same period! Their business model? Simple: Buy U.S. Treasuries > Sell USDT for dollars > Pocket the yield In fact, Tether has become such a dominant buyer of U.S. Treasuries that in 2024, it ranked as the 7th largest holder worldwide, outpacing entire countries like Canada, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. If it is so “simple”, why hasn't anyone copied this insanely profitable business? Many have tried. Some of the biggest companies in crypto have launched stablecoins, mostly U.S.-based, even Trump has just launched one! But here’s the key issue: There’s no shortage of dollars in the U.S. The real demand for USDT comes from outside the U.S., where access to relatively “stable” currencies is scarce. Most people focus on Tether’s digital distribution, USDT runs on multiple blockchains and is available across major platforms. But what’s often overlooked is its physical distribution network. Across the developing world, Africa, South America, and Asia, physical kiosks sell USDT like a foreign exchange service. Tether understood its product: dollars outside the U.S. Around the world, fiat currencies are collapsing. In many countries, only high-net-worth individuals can open dollar accounts, or make/receive payments in dollars. Even then, their money is at risk, governments can enforce capital controls or outright freeze bank accounts overnight, just like what happened in Lebanon. For millions, USDT in a digital wallet is the new Swiss private bank, but better. It’s in your pocket, free from local counterparty risk, empowering individuals to control their financial future. While critics reduce crypto to “just” speculation, its real-world utility emerges when currencies collapse or hyperinflate. When people must flee war, authoritarian regimes, or economic disaster, assets like USDT and Bitcoin, in self-custody, allow people to carry their wealth with them wherever they go. This use case alone makes Bitcoin and USDT one of the most important innovations in history, as we cannot even imagine the applications that will be built on top of this infrastructure.  With pretty much every tech and financial company looking to launch or use stablecoins, I'd imagine growth will continue to skyrocket as stablecoins is clearly how we solve financial inclusion globally for individuals and companies.

📧🎙️ This Week in Kalam Crypto: 🇦🇪 UAE deepens its crypto investments 🇺🇸 More good regulatory news coming from the U.S. 🇷🇺 Russia is using crypto to facilitate oil trade 📈 Corporate Bitcoin stacking accelerates All this and more in this week’s edition of Kalam Crypto! 🚀

📧🎙️ This Week in Kalam Crypto: 🤝 Ripple obtained a payment license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) 📈 #XRP surged after the SEC drops lawsuit against Ripple 🟠 #Bitcoin ETFs experienced the largest inflow in six weeks All this and more in this week’s edition of Kalam Crypto! 🚀

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When it comes to on/off ramps in MENA, there is no second best 💪

🏆 We’re honored to be recognized by Forbes Middle East as one of the Top 50 Fintech Companies in the Middle East for 2025! 🚀 This achievement reflects our commitment to building a seamless and secure crypto trading experience in the region. A huge thank you to our team, users, and partners who continue to support our vision. The best is yet to come! https://lnkd.in/dYvr_M6d #CoinMENA #ForbesMiddleEast #Fintech50 #Crypto #MENA

UAE Banking Transforms Crypto On/Off Ramps – Secret Behind Smooth Transactions Talal Tabbaa, CEO of CoinMENA, explained how UAE banks are powering efficient crypto on- and off-ramps. I’ve been in crypto for over 10 years, built my own exchange, I know firsthand that strong banking relationships matter. Here’s what stood out: 2. Banking Is Improving: UAE banking scene has evolved. Today, most of our business relies on seamless on- and off-ramps, making crypto more accessible than ever. 2. Zandbank Sets the Standard: Shout out to Zandbank! Their innovative approach lets virtual asset service providers secure client money accounts. 3. Strong, Regulated Players: MBank is another standout. Regulated by central bank and driving real progress. More international banks are joining the party to support crypto innovation. 4. Personalized Support at CoinMENA: CoinMENA helps you set up your banking. That personal touch makes all the difference for retail users. UAE banks aren’t a barrier - they’re catalyst for crypto adoption. Strong, regulated banking builds trust, fuels efficient on- and off-ramps, and supports global crypto growth. 💬 Do you think there's enough crypto friendly UAE banks? 👇 Let me know in comments. Big "thank you" to Talal Tabbaa, for joining on an awesome podcast with Demetrios Zamboglou PhD. Watch full podcast: youtu.be/luxMH6zVlNI

UAE Licensing Gives Massive Edge in Tokenized RWAs Traditional financial institutions rely on “bankable” assets. These securities backed by strict regulations, clear custody rules, and international IDs. Changing these time-tested processes is extremely hard. Talal Tabbaa, CEO of CoinMENA, explains that UAE licensing framework creates a major advantage. Virtual asset service providers work directly with tokenized assets. Something US struggles with because of rigid securities rules. Tokenized assets won’t be as popular as stablecoins, Bitcoin, layer ones, or meme coins in the short term. They’ll serve a niche market now, but their long-term potential is enormous. 💬 Do you see tokenized assets as the next big financial innovation? 👇 Let me know in comments. Big "thank you" to Talal Tabbaa, for joining on an awesome podcast with Demetrios Zamboglou PhD. Watch full podcast: youtu.be/luxMH6zVlNI

Layer 2 Solutions & Bitcoin: Future of Secure Settlements Talal Tabbaa, CEO of CoinMENA, believes Layer 2 solutions will be as common as websites. Every company launching its own L2. We’ve already seen Coinbase launch one and Kraken is following. But in end, all value will settle on Bitcoin. When value becomes huge, most secure chain wins. In that case, even Ethereum might work like a Bitcoin Layer 2. Talal adds that those who prioritize security will ultimately settle on Bitcoin. 💬 Do you think Layer 2 solutions will take over, or will Bitcoin’s security make it final settlement layer? 👇 Let me know your thoughts in comments. Big "thank you" to Talal Tabbaa for joining awesome podcast with Demetrios Zamboglou PhD. Watch full podcast: youtu.be/luxMH6zVlNI