BitOasis announces expansion in GCC

BitOasis, the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) leading regional cryptocurrency trading platform announces receiving a Category 2 Crypto-Asset Services License from the Central Bank of Bahrain, paving the way for expanding its footprint in the GCC.

BitOasis Bahrain received its license shortly after BitOasis reopened its trading platform in Dubai to new retail and institutional users following the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) lifting an earlier suspension of its MVP Operational license on 12 April 2024.

The landmark regulatory approval in Bahrain will enable BitOasis to launch its new broker-dealer platform through its local company in the Kingdom, BitOasis Bahrain. Located in Bahrain Fintech Bay, BitOasis Bahrain will be home to a small team of core employees at its inception, with the company gradually growing its presence in the Kingdom as it works to launch its new platform, expected to go live in the second half of 2024.

Ola Doudin, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BitOasis, said: “With regulation at the forefront of a maturing regional crypto market, we are delighted to have secured this new license from the Central Bank of Bahrain. The Central Bank’s commitment and leadership in regulating our industry allows businesses like BitOasis to launch cutting-edge products in an industry characterised by rapidly and dynamically evolving technology. We are excited to welcome our new team in Bahrain to the business and to start serving new customers very soon.”

BitOasis Bahrain will serve retail, corporate, and institutional clients in Bahrain and the broader Mena region, with an initial focus on its broker-dealer product.

Securing the new license and launching its office in the Kingdom marks a significant step in BitOasis’ strategic expansion across the GCC. Driven by a forward-looking regulatory momentum, diverse economic conditions, and a young, tech-savvy population, the broader Mena market has shown remarkable dynamism and resilience in embracing virtual assets.