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MENA received $338b value in crypto as the 7th-largest market

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The Middle East and North Africa region has become the seventh-largest cryptocurrency market as both retail and institutional adoption grows.

According to a Chainalysis report, MENA received $338.7 billion in cryptocurrencies between July 2023 and June 2024, securing the seventh spot. This accounted for 7.5% of the global on-chain value.

Türkiye leads the region with $137 billion in on-chain value received, followed by Morocco’s $12.7 billion. These two are the only countries in Chainalysis’ global crypto adoption index.

The report found that 93% of the transactions in the region were worth over $10,000, driven by professional and institutional movements. 

Per Chainalysis, the United Arab Emirates witnessed impressive growth in retail and institutional on-chain value due to its favorable regulatory landscape.

Last month, Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin USDT, announced to create a dirham-pegged stablecoin in the UAE which will be backed by the country’s liquid reserves. 

The stablecoin issuer joined forces with Fuze, a crypto infrastructure company, to educate both individuals and large institutions in Türkiye and the Middle East about cryptocurrencies and raise their awareness.

According to data from Chainalysis, Saudi Arabia’s crypto market saw a 154% year-over-year growth in the mentioned timeframe, emerging as the fastest-growing digital asset economy in the region.

Most of the on-chain activity in MENA happened on decentralized exchanges. 32.4% and 30.9% of the on-chain movements in the UAE and Saudi Arabia occurred on DEXs, per the report.

It’s important to note that Saudi Arabia and Qatar still don’t have an operational regulatory framework for crypto companies which could be the main reason behind their DEX use.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment invested $250 million in the Hedera blockchain in February to boost web3 development in the country. 





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Ohio introduces second Bitcoin reserve bill

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The State of Ohio has introduced a second Bitcoin reserve bill as crypto legislation gains momentum across the U.S. ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Ohio House GOP Majority Whip Steve Demetriou proposed legislation to allow the state to manage a strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve, Satoshi Act Fund founder Dennis Porter shared on Dec. 19 during an X Spaces event.

Demetriou’s bill follows a similar proposal from Representative Derek Merrin, which would also position Ohio as a Bitcoin reserve holder. Speaking on X Spaces, Demetriou explained that his legislation would enable Ohio to allocate up to 10% of its state-controlled funds toward a BTC stockpile.

“Bitcoin can help tap into Ohio’s existing energy reserves,” Demetriou added. Ohio is famed for having massive natural gas reserves and a competitive energy grid.

The Ohio GOP Majority Whip provided no specific timeline for the bill’s passage but expressed hope that House bureaucracy would not delay progress.

American legislative conversations have increasingly focused on BTC-related proposals following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the recent election.

Earlier, Porter said that the Bitcoin renaissance was spotted amassing momentum in over 12 states and counting. Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were a few states that weighed BTC reserve laws.

In Washington, Senator Cynthia Lummis has advocated for federal BTC reserve policies. Responding to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Lummis argued that the Senate should authorize the central bank to hold Bitcoin. Powell previously clarified that the Fed cannot own BTC under current laws.





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Wyoming seeks developers for state-backed stablecoin

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The State of Wyoming is hiring blockchain developers to support the creation of its government-issued stablecoin currency.

The Wyoming Stable Token Commission has issued public Requests for Qualification to attract talent for its stablecoin initiative, known as “Project WYST.”

Stablecoins are digital currencies that trade with 1:1 dollar parity, allowing users to deploy U.S. dollars in blockchain markets and decentralized finance venues. The sector has over $200 billion in circulation, and stabelcoins feature in most cryptocurrency transactions, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Applicants have until Dec. 12 to submit their proposals for roles that include token development, support, listing, on-chain analysis, reserve management, financial auditing, and ecosystem intelligence.

WYST details remain limited, but Commission discussions indicate it may launch on Ethereum or Solana networks.

The Wyoming Stable Token Act, passed in 2023, authorized the state to issue stablecoins. According to the WyoStable Commission website, WYST is designed to represent and be redeemable for one U.S. dollar held in trust by the state. Tokens will only be issued in exchange for U.S. dollars.

WYST is a proposed virtual currency representative of and redeemable for one (1) United States dollar held in trust by the state of Wyoming as provided by W.S. 40‑31‑106. Stable tokens shall only be issued in exchange for United States dollars.

WyoStable Commission website

Wyoming has positioned itself as a web3 leader with U.S. borders. In March, the state officially recognized decentralized autonomous organizations as legal entities.

The landmark crypto bill reaffirmed sovereign acceptance for DAOs amid regulatory uncertainty, predominantly from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Kraken also launched its licensed custody solution in the state in March.

Back in February 2023, local lawmakers passed a bill to protect crypto self-custody, protecting the right to hold Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis was at the forefront of Federal Congressional efforts to establish a national Bitcoin reserve. Thousands penned letters supporting her BITCOIN BILL, per crypto.news reporting.

Other states were following suit and mulled Bitcoin reserve legislation as the U.S. voted its first pro-BTC president in Republican Donald Trump.





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Bitcoin advocate hints at ‘strategic reserve’ laws in 10 US states

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Satoshi Act Fund founder Dennis Porter announced that several U.S. states are preparing to propose legislation for sovereign Bitcoin reserves.

In an attempt to front-run President Donald Trump’s Bitcoin (BTC) promise, Porter has lobbied local policymakers to introduce legislation for BTC stockpiles across 10 state jurisdictions. Porter disclosed the development via an X thread, highlighting efforts from his Satoshi Act Fund organization toward passing Bitcoin-focused laws.

I can now officially confirm and announce that 10 states will be introducing ‘Strategic Bitcoin Reserves’ legislation here in the great United STATES of America. We are going to win with Bitcoin. We will lead the world. No one will come close. The word will follow our lead.

Dennis Porter, Satoshi Act Fund founder and CEO

The public BTC supported also announced a joint discussion with Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis regarding her BITCOIN ACT, suggesting that Porter has engaged federal lawmakers to position the U.S. as a Bitcoin leader.

Lummis’s proposal would transfer 207,000 BTC seized by authorities to the Treasury Department. The Senator also pushed to convert U.S. gold certificates to finance BTC purchases and accumulate one million coins over five years.

“The race is on. Let the game theory begin,” Porter tweeted, referring to President Trump’s plan to establish a government BTC stockpile from America’s existing $19 billion horde.

Nations, states, and governments are rushing to grab portions of BTC’s 21 million fixed supply following Trump’s victory at the presidential polls. Within the U.S., Pennsylvania already passed a bill legalizing BTC payments and crypto self-custody. The state also introduced a bill paving the way for its own BTC reserve in November.

On the international front, Brazil’s Senate considered pitching a national BTC reserve to President Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaCongressman Eros Biondini submitted the idea to Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies as crypto.news reported.





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