Bahrain-headquartered onshore crypto assets exchange CoinMENA has been sported among the leading tech brands in the Middle East for a second consecutive time.
Dina Sam’an, the co-founder and managing director of CoinMENA, is among Forbes Middle East’s top 20 Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands. In an exclusive interview with Bahrain This Week, Ms Sam’an shared her aspiration and pride at the recognition.
“Being recognised by Forbes means a lot. This recognition holds immense significance to me on both a personal and professional level,” said Ms Sam’an.
“It serves as a validation of the hard work, dedication, and passion that my team and I have put into building CoinMENA.”
Launched in 2021 along with Talal Tabbaa and Yazan Barghuthi, CoinMENA was built primarily to address a market gap that existed for easy and safe access to crypto investing. Today, as a fully regulated, onshore crypto exchange licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), CoinMENA claims “to have not only successfully bridged the gap but also become the go-to exchange, known for its prompt transactions, a wide variety of assets, excellent customer service, and easy-to-use mobile app”.
“Being acknowledged alongside other talented and inspiring women in the tech industry further highlights the strides women are making in the region,” said Ms Sam’an. “I hope that this recognition will inspire more women to pursue their passions in tech and entrepreneurship, knowing that their efforts can lead to meaningful and impactful outcomes. It is my belief that diverse perspectives and talents are essential for driving positive change in the tech industry and society as a whole.”
Ms Sam’an assured that CoinMENA is a crypto-asset provider that offers investors ‘a secure and reliable gateway to the world of digital assets’.
“On CoinMENA, users can buy, sell, send, receive, and store over 50 digital assets,” said the 30-year-old Jordanian, who previously worked for BitOasis.
“Our biggest differentiator is our stable banking relationships, thanks to CBB which allows investors to transfer funds directly between their CoinMENA wallet and bank account. Another key differentiator is our OTC desk, tailored for high-value traders and corporate clients. CoinMENA operates the top crypto OTC trading desk in the region, offering realtime price matching, preferential rates, and live order execution. Each OTC client benefits from a dedicated relationship manager and 24/7 support team, ensuring prompt responses to any inquiries.”
CoinMENA also boasts a highly skilled bilingual customer service team, which Ms Sa’man believes, “plays a crucial role, especially as many users are new to crypto, making excellent client relations vital in delivering a seamless user experience.”
“Last but not least, our commitment to educational content and awareness. We are the first crypto asset service company to launch an extensive and free web learning platform (https://university.coinmena. com/) which includes over 100 articles, videos, and animations explaining the world of bitcoin, crypto, and financial literacy. We consider crypto education to be critical for the long-term success of CoinMENA, as well as the overall adoption of crypto in the region.”
Regulatory compliance has been a top priority for CoinMENA since the beginning, setting it apart from its competitors, said Ms Sa’man.
“We are proudly licensed by the CBB as a crypto asset service provider. In addition, we have a provisional license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) and expect to obtain the full license imminently. This will always be the top priority for us because crypto was plagued with bad actors who took advantage of regulatory arbitrage and ended up either fully collapsing or getting their licenses suspended.”
CoinMENA with a robust regulatory framework, compliance requirements and regular audits, ensures the security and safety of investors’ digital assets, assured Ms Sa’man. “More importantly, we keep our user funds in segregated accounts, and we don’t offer leverage or margin, which severely increases the risk profile of an exchange. In addition, users’ crypto assets are held in deep cold storage with the world’s leading crypto custodian, BitGo, and insured for up to $250 million. We see crypto as a long-term investment and will continue to manage our risk prudently to build a sustainable and profitable business.”
The future is promising for CoinMENA, with exciting announcements in the pipeline, especially on the licensing front.