Dubai’s Emirates NBD, one of the region’s largest banks, has officially introduced crypto trading for its customers through its digital banking app, Liv X. This marks a major step in making crypto investment more accessible, allowing users to buy and sell digital assets directly from their accounts.
The bank announced the launch via email on Thursday, signaling a strong push toward integrating crypto into traditional banking.
Dubai Strengthens Its Position as a Crypto Hub
Dubai has been working to establish itself as a global crypto hub by introducing clear regulations that attract major exchanges like Binance, Crypto.com, and OKX. Now, with a government-owned bank entering the space, it reinforces the city’s commitment to digital assets.
Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking & Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, emphasized that with the UAE’s high crypto adoption rate, the bank sees this as the right time to offer its own virtual asset services.
To ensure a secure and regulated experience, Emirates NBD has partnered with Aquanow, a digital asset platform licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This partnership provides a compliant infrastructure for customers trading through Liv X.
In addition, Liv X has teamed up with Zodia, a custody service backed by Standard Chartered, to enhance security. Zodia safeguards cryptocurrencies for Liv X customers, ensuring their assets are stored securely and protected.
A Step Toward Wider Crypto Adoption
With a leading bank now offering crypto services, more people in the UAE will have easy access to digital assets. This could drive further adoption and investment, strengthening Dubai’s reputation as a center for crypto-friendly banking.
Emirates NBD’s move may also encourage other banks in the region to explore similar offerings, speeding up crypto’s integration into everyday finance.
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