Crypto Exchange Approved for Regulatory Sandbox License in Bahrain

A Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange has reportedly become the first crypto exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to receive a regulatory sandbox license. The license was granted by the Central Bank of Bahrain and will take effect this week.

Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space

Crypto Exchange Received Sandbox License

The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has reportedly granted a regulatory sandbox license to the operator of Palmex, a Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange. The Dubai International Financial Center (CPI Financial) elaborated on Tuesday:

Palmex, a professional digital asset exchange powered by Arabianchain Technology, has become the first cryptocurrency exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to receive a regulatory sandbox licence.

According to its website, the exchange offers “multiple trading pairs including bitcoin and Dubaicoin DBIX, the first decentralized cryptocurrency in the region,” in addition to ETH, LTC, and XRP. Fees are divided into three tiers based on monthly trading volume.

Venture company Arabianchain Technology is also based in Dubai. “Arabianchain is the first public, decentralized and consensus-driven blockchain in the MENA region,” the company claims.

License Effective July 15

The sandbox creates a virtual safe space for businesses to “trial and refine innovative products, services, platforms and business models in a live but controlled environment…giving regulators time to adapt legislation as needed,” CPI Financial explained. “Companies will also be able to apply to list their tokens and coins with Palmex and benefit from the compliance of the exchange.”

According to Arabianchain’s founder and CEO, Mohammed Alsehli, the company “will start with a limited number of select users to test and optimize the process and then expand to the rest.” CPI Financial wrote:

The licence goes into effect on 15 July as part of a rigorous application process that verified its security systems, policies, processes and controls to protect customers. Whilst in the regulatory sandbox, companies are required to adhere to CBB regulations.

The CEO believes that “a significant rise in awareness and adoption [of cryptocurrency] could be expected, driving a huge spike in the number of trades and token-based fundraising across the region while maintaining the safety of the financial system,” CPI Financial conveyed.

What do you think of the Central Bank of Bahrain granting Palmex a regulatory sandbox license? Let us know in the comments section below.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock, Arabianchain, and Palmex.

Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check our tools section.