Paribu Makes Power Move: Acquires CoinMENA to Dominate Middle East Crypto Markets
Turkish crypto giant Paribu just fired a shot across the bow of the Middle East's digital asset space. Its acquisition of Bahrain-licensed exchange CoinMENA isn't just an expansion—it's a strategic land grab for one of finance's most promising frontiers.
The Gateway Play
Forget dipping a toe in the water. Paribu is building a bridge. The MENA region, with its young, tech-savvy population and progressive regulatory frameworks, represents a goldmine for crypto adoption. By swallowing CoinMENA—an exchange already blessed by Bahrain's central bank—Paribu bypasses years of regulatory slog and instantly plants its flag in a compliant hub. It's a masterclass in buying market access.
Why This Deal Matters
This isn't about adding another trading pair. It's about control. The move gives Paribu direct lines into deep-pocketed institutional investors and a massive retail base hungry for digital assets. It consolidates liquidity, expands fiat on-ramps, and creates a formidable regional powerhouse overnight. Competitors in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are now on notice.
The Bigger Picture
Look east. While traditional finance in the West debates ETFs and interest rates, the real structural shift is happening in emerging markets. Paribu's play highlights a seismic trend: crypto's future is being written in regions unburdened by legacy banking systems. They're not waiting for permission—they're building the new rails.
The Bottom Line
Paribu's CoinMENA takeover is a bold, calculated bet on geographic dominance. It signals that the next phase of crypto growth will be won not just by technology, but by territory and regulatory foresight. One cynical take? It's a refreshing change from the usual finance playbook of overpaying for consultants instead of just buying the damn market. The chess pieces are moving. Watch this space.
Paribu expands from Turkey into the MENA region
Paribu has now expanded its operations outside of Turkey into the GCC region, just as CoinDCX did with its acquisition of BitOasis, another UAE homegrown, regulated crypto exchange.
Both Paribu and CoinDCX will utilize the licenses that CoinMENA and BitOasis have in the UAE with Dubai’s VIRTUAL Asset Regulatory Authority, and in Bahrain with the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Yasin Oral, Founder and CEO of Paribu, noted that the transaction was a turning point not only for Paribu, but also for the digital assets and broader ecosystem in Turkey and the MENA region.
He stated, “With this acquisition, we have expanded our licensed operations to a wider geography, becoming a regulated player in one of the world’s most crypto-adoptive markets.”
He added, “With this step, we are opening a new chapter in Paribu’s growth journey, extending our presence into the MENA region and contributing to the ongoing consolidation of the global digital asset industry, building on the strong foundation we have established in Türkiye.”
Talal Tabbaa and Dina Sam’an, Co-Founders of CoinMENA, also expressed that the combination of CoinMENA’s regional expertise with Paribu’s technology will allow them to develop a comprehensive suite of digital asset products for users across Turkey and MENA.
The duo noted, “This acquisition is the most transformative milestone in CoinMENA’s history. Paribu’s investment validates the strength of what we have built.”
We’re excited to share that CoinMENA has been acquired by @ParibuCom in a transaction valued at up to USD 240 million!
This acquisition strengthens our global presence, accelerates innovation, and allows us to deliver even more value and opportunities to our users across MENA… pic.twitter.com/HrkC4uZpRy
Turkey leads in crypto adoption in 2024 and 2025
In the Chainalysis 2024 Geography of Cryptocurrency report, it noted that MENA was the seventh largest crypto market globally in 2024, with the biggest two crypto countries being Turkey and Morocco.
In addition, it noted that the fastest-growing crypto countries are Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Saudi Arabia remains the fastest-growing crypto economy in the MENA region, growing by 154% year-over-year.
According to a Chainalysis report in 2025, Turkey became the leading crypto market in the MENA region, handling nearly $200 billion in transactions. Additionally, Jordan did make top 4 out of top 10 global adoption by country when taking into it the population.
MENA saw a modest 33% growth, suggesting a slower pace of adoption relative to other emerging markets, though total volume still exceeded half a trillion dollars.
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