DeFi Technologies, a Nasdaq-listed financial technology company, is setting its sights on Bahrain to lead the charge in the Middle East and North Africa’s growing decentralised finance landscape. The firm, which specializes in bridging traditional capital markets with the digital asset economy, plans to introduce its comprehensive suite of products by leveraging the kingdom’s progressive regulatory framework for crypto assets.
Leveraging Bahrain’s Progressive Stance
According to DeFi Technologies President Andrew Forson, Bahrain’s early and clear regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies and stablecoins makes it a prime market for expansion. The company is keen to introduce its portfolio of over 100 exchange-traded products (ETPs) to the region.
Through its subsidiary, Sovereign Financial Liquidity Solutions (SovFi), the firm also aims to offer innovative solutions designed to drive liquidity to sovereign debt and equities markets, accelerating the adoption of tokenised instruments.
A Three-Pronged Approach to Capital Markets
Forson detailed three core products designed to immediately enhance Bahrain’s capital markets. The first is the flagship Valour Digital Asset Underlying ETPs, a portfolio of more than 100 ETPs currently listed on eight global exchanges. He sees an opportunity for Bahrain to “leapfrog the competition” by cross-listing the entire portfolio, positioning the Bahrain Bourse as a regional leader in regulated digital asset access.
Second, the SovFi BYCA Bonds would wrap Bahrain’s sovereign debt into structured instruments that offer a new capacity for capital appreciation. Listing these on international exchanges is intended to directly drive foreign capital flows into the kingdom.
Finally, the SovFi FDIB Equity ETP would package selected Bahraini equities into structured instruments for international listing, further opening up local markets to global investors.
Bridging Traditional and Digital Finance
Addressing potential concerns within the traditional financial sector, Forson asserted that “Banks will always exist,” provided they remain adaptable and view digital assets as an opportunity rather than a threat. He envisions a future where Bahraini banking offers seamless access to both traditional and tokenised instruments, safely custodied and on-ramped through regulated financial institutions.
Vision for the Wider MENA Region
For the broader GCC and MENA region, the core Valour ETP offering will be identical to the products listed on major exchanges like the London Stock Exchange and SIX Exchange Switzerland.
Additionally, DeFi Technologies will deploy its SovMetriX framework, a digital asset and exchange scoring mechanism. This tool provides institutional investors with an objective overview of the value and risk profile across all digital asset classes, ensuring institutions have access to high-quality, safe investment products.
About DeFi Technologies
DeFi Technologies is a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). Through its subsidiary Valour, the company offers exchange-traded products (ETPs) that allow investors to gain exposure to digital assets, and through its venture portfolio, it invests in the foundational technologies and teams shaping the future of finance.
Source: Zawya
