A landmark acquisition for regional crypto markets
Turkish digital-asset platform Paribu has acquired a majority stake in CoinMENA, valuing the Bahrain- and UAE-regulated crypto exchange at up to $240 million.
The deal represents Turkey’s largest fintech and crypto acquisition to date, and a significant moment of consolidation in the Middle East’s digital-assets sector.
Strategic expansion into regulated MENA markets
CoinMENA operates under regulatory frameworks in both Bahrain and Dubai, giving Paribu immediate access to some of the region’s most mature crypto jurisdictions.
For Paribu, the acquisition:
- Expands its licensed footprint beyond Turkey
- Accelerates entry into Gulf markets
- Strengthens its institutional and retail offering
For CoinMENA, the deal provides scale, capital, and access to Paribu’s broader technology and liquidity infrastructure.
Consolidation amid regulatory clarity
As crypto regulations across MENA mature, the market is shifting from fragmented local players to larger, compliance-driven platforms.
This acquisition signals:
- Increased cross-border M&A activity
- Growing institutional confidence in regulated crypto businesses
- A move away from speculative growth toward infrastructure-led scale
The transaction positions the combined entity to compete with global exchanges while maintaining regional regulatory alignment.
Editor’s Note — The Startups MENA Team
Crypto’s next chapter in MENA is not about hype—it’s about regulation, scale, and consolidation. Paribu’s acquisition of CoinMENA underscores a decisive shift toward compliant growth and cross-market integration.
As regional regulators clarify frameworks and institutional capital steps in, we expect more acquisitions of this kind—reshaping the competitive landscape and defining which platforms emerge as long-term winners.
— The Startups MENA Editorial Team
