CoinMENA Partners with Standard Chartered to Strengthen UAE Fiat Payment Infrastructure

Highlights:

• CoinMENA secured new banking support in the UAE through an agreement with Standard Chartered.
• The deal adds fiat funding and transaction management services for CoinMENA customers.
• Other companies are competing to expand regulated payment and digital asset services across the UAE.

CoinMENA, a licensed digital asset exchange operating in the MENA region, has entered a banking agreement with Standard Chartered to improve fiat payment services for customers in the United Arab Emirates. Under the agreement, CoinMENA will use Standard Chartered’s banking services to support fiat on-ramps and off-ramps across its platform.

🤝 Major milestone for MENA digital assets!

CoinMENA (@CoinMENA) has signed a banking agreement with Standard Chartered (@StanChart) to enhance fiat on/off-ramps with faster funding, efficient payouts, and real-time payment rails. 🌐#CoinMENA #StandardChartered #MENA #FinTech pic.twitter.com/rGRP8gEZT9

— CoinMENA | كوين مينا (@CoinMENA) June 17, 2026

The arrangement also includes safeguarded client money accounts and virtual account-based transaction management. CoinMENA said the setup will help customers move funds between traditional finance and digital assets.

The exchange said the agreement will support faster customer funding and settlement through Standard Chartered’s banking network. The company also said the arrangement will provide greater transaction visibility for customers and approved global counterparties. In addition, the agreement supports liquidity settlement with approved global counterparties. CoinMENA said the agreement adds structured banking support through safeguarded accounts and virtual account management services.

CoinMENA customers use banking channels to deposit and withdraw UAE dirhams through the exchange. Crypto exchanges also require banking partners to hold client funds, process settlements, and support transactions with approved counterparties.

Why UAE Regulations Matter for the Next Growth Phase of CoinMENA

The UAE introduced separate regulatory frameworks for virtual assets, payment tokens, retail payments, and stored value services. These frameworks have attracted crypto exchanges, fintech companies, and digital asset infrastructure providers to establish operations in the country.

Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East, and Pakistan at Standard Chartered, said,

“The UAE has established itself as one of the world’s leading regulatory environments for digital assets, creating opportunities for regulated firms and established financial institutions to work together. As the sector continues to mature, trusted banking infrastructure will remain essential to supporting its long-term development.”

The UAE framework covers compliance requirements, settlement processes, client money protection, and banking relationships. Authorities created separate pathways for firms offering virtual asset services, payment token activities, retail payment solutions, and stored value products. These frameworks set regulatory requirements according to the services each company provides.

Digital Finance Ecosystem Broadens Across the Emirates

In addition to the CoinMENA agreement, other financial and digital asset companies have expanded their presence in the UAE. Several firms have secured new approvals, launched payment infrastructure, and introduced additional financial services across the market.

Revolut recently received Stored Value Facilities and Retail Payment Services licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE. The approvals followed the in-principle authorization that the company received in September last year. Revolut said it is developing local products before launching services in the UAE. The company is also evaluating expansion opportunities across additional Middle East and North Africa markets.

⚡️ @Revolut has secured payment licences from the UAE Central Bank, clearing the way to launch services in one of the Middle East's financial hubs, and extending its global regulatory expansion drive.

The approval covers Stored Value Facilities and Retail Payment Services.

— Sandmark (@sandmark_news) June 18, 2026

Kraken has also expanded its UAE presence by preparing AED funding, margin trading, over-the-counter services, and Kraken Prime access in Dubai. The planned services target both retail customers and institutional participants operating in the market.

AE Coin and USDU also launched a regulated stablecoin conversion rail in the UAE. AE Coin and USDU said the conversion rail supports institutional settlement, treasury operations, and cross-border payments. The companies introduced the infrastructure to support regulated digital asset transactions and financial operations. USDU launched under a central bank-approved framework that supports digital asset settlement activities.