A cryptocurrency exchange kiosk in Istanbul, Turkey. Bloomberg
A cryptocurrency exchange kiosk in Istanbul, Turkey. Bloomberg
A cryptocurrency exchange kiosk in Istanbul, Turkey. Bloomberg
A cryptocurrency exchange kiosk in Istanbul, Turkey. Bloomberg


Why Bitcoin is suited to the Middle East


Philip Karageorgevitch
  • English
  • Arabic

December 09, 2024

Bitcoin is not just a technological innovation; it is a transformative force reshaping how we understand money, governance and economic sovereignty. As someone who has delved deeply into its potential, I believe Bitcoin offers solutions to pressing global challenges while fostering long-term stability and individual empowerment.

My journey with Bitcoin began as I dealt with systemic issues such as inflation and centralisation. Marrying and starting a family shifted my perspective towards legacy and sustainability, leading me to lower my time preference – a concept central to Bitcoin’s philosophy. Unlike fiat systems that incentivise short-term thinking, Bitcoin’s principles of scarcity and incorruptibility align with enduring governance systems that prioritise generational stability. This realisation crystallised during the Covid-19 pandemic, a period that highlighted the fragility of global monetary systems and underscored Bitcoin’s necessity.

Bitcoin is more than a store of value; it’s a tool for protecting freedoms and fostering decentralised financial networks. Its potential becomes especially apparent in regions such as the Middle East and North Africa, where economic transformation is accelerating.

These nations are uniquely positioned to benefit from Bitcoin due to their transition from oil-based economies to knowledge-driven industries, abundant energy resources and youthful, tech-savvy populations. Bitcoin mining, for example, offers a way to monetise surplus energy while attracting investment in renewable and traditional energy sectors. This dual advantage of financial and energy innovation positions the region as a global leader in Bitcoin adoption.

Bitcoin’s transformative potential is not limited to individuals or corporations – it extends to governments and entire economies

Cultural factors in the region further support Bitcoin’s resonance. Islamic financial principles – emphasising fairness, transparency and incorruptibility – mirror Bitcoin’s core values. Additionally, the region’s reliance on remittance-driven economies highlights Bitcoin’s efficiency as a low-cost, borderless alternative to traditional financial systems. For nations seeking to empower underbanked populations and enhance financial inclusion, Bitcoin is a game-changer.

At a national level, Bitcoin adoption offers profound benefits. It enables governments to hedge against economic volatility, enhance transparency and curb corruption. Countries can reduce dependency on inflation-prone fiat systems, building reserves in an incorruptible, borderless asset. Policies supporting Bitcoin not only attract innovation and talent but also position nations to compete in a decentralised global economy.

Organisations such as JAN3, where I am honoured to contribute, are advancing Bitcoin adoption at the nation-state level. By developing infrastructure, driving policy innovation and promoting Bitcoin mining as a strategic tool, these organisations are unlocking Bitcoin’s potential for countries to achieve financial sovereignty. Mining, in particular, allows nations to transform untapped energy into economic resilience, stabilising power grids and creating new revenue streams.

Bitcoin’s transformative potential is not limited to individuals or corporations – it extends to governments and entire economies. Events such as Bitcoin Mena amplify this vision, showcasing how Bitcoin can address global challenges like inflation and limited financial inclusion while positioning regions as innovation leaders.

The world stands at a crossroads. By embracing Bitcoin, we can secure a more stable, equitable and decentralised financial future, fostering economic freedom and sovereignty for generations to come.

The biog

Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives. 

The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast. 

As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau

He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker. 

If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah

 

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Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Armies of Sand

By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
 

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Updated: December 09, 2024, 6:13 AM