National Bank of Bahrain Launches First Structured Bitcoin Investment in the GCC
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has launched the first structured Bitcoin investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in collaboration with ARP Digital.
This was announced during a special ceremony held alongside the “Future of Financial Technology 2024” forum, marking an important step in the local and regional financial sector.
This product is designed exclusively for accredited investors, providing them the opportunity to track Bitcoin’s long-term growth while ensuring capital preservation.
Through the structured investment, investors can benefit from the increasing performance of Bitcoin with 100% capital protection, offering a strong hedge against the volatility of the cryptocurrency market.
Hisham Al-Kurdi, Group CEO of Markets and Banking Solutions at NBB, stated that this investment combines the desire for digital assets with the assurance of capital protection.
He explained that this product reflects the bank’s commitment to providing secure and innovative avenues for wealth management clients, enabling them to diversify their portfolios in an evolving investment landscape.
It also highlights the bank’s continuous leadership in financial innovation in the region, emphasizing that this initiative aligns with the bank’s strategy to enhance its product offerings, especially for wealth management clients.
He noted that by providing tailored solutions that balance growth potential with risk reduction, this product meets the needs of investors who are risk-averse but wish to engage with Bitcoin while isolating their core investments from market fluctuations.
Abdullah Kanoo, co-founder and co-CEO of ARP Digital, added that the partnership with NBB represents a turning point in the regional market.
He stated, “With our expertise in digital assets and NBB’s extensive presence in the financial sector, we have developed a product that facilitates access to Bitcoin within a secure framework.
This structured investment opens new horizons for investors looking to adopt a measured approach to digital assets.”
Dalaal Bouhaji, Executive Director of Business Development in the “Financial Services” sector at the Economic Development Board, remarked, “The launch of this structured investment showcases the potential of Bahrain’s robust financial services ecosystem, creating a fertile environment for innovative solutions.”
This enhances Bahrain’s position as a leading regional hub for financial technology and a reliable investment destination for local and global investors.
This initiative embodies a seamless integration of traditional financial practices with blockchain-based solutions.
The structured investment linked to Bitcoin reinforces NBB’s pioneering role in digital asset investment, highlighting its progressive approach to aligning traditional wealth management practices with emerging trends in global finance, thereby strengthening the kingdom’s status as a center for financial innovation and investment diversification in the region.