American telecom heir eyes GCC's growing digital assets ecosystem

Khaleej Times

9 hours ago

The GCC's digital assets market is booming. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, among the Mena region's top-three markets alongside Turkey, received $30 billion in digital assets last year alone. The combined revenue of the two countries in the digital assets space is projected to touch nearly $1.5 billion in 2025. And while Saudi Arabia leads on the revenue front, the UAE, with over 500 licensed entities, is building for the next billion crypto users, taking massive leaps in bridging traditional finance and blockchain-focused innovation, and lining up several advancements from a regulatory, security, and operational aspect.
As several global digital asset companies look to set base here, American tech entrepreneur and billionaire heir Chase Ergen, who has been an open advocate of financial inclusion through decentralized innovation, is eyeing the UAE's digital asset market. Chase is on the Board of Nasdaq-listed DeFi Technologies, and is the son of American billionaire Charlie Ergen, co-founder and Chairman of EchoStar and Dish Network.
According to Chase, Mena's fast-evolving financial landscape offers a strategic entry point for DeFi Technologies to list locally and integrate into the region's infrastructure. As a publicly listed company in the US, DeFi Technologies brings regulated digital asset exposure tailored for investors and institutions, an offering that aligns closely with the region's commitment to fostering innovation through collaboration with banks, startups, and policymakers. With expertise in both traditional finance and digital innovation, DeFi Technologies is positioned to help GCC institutions and investors navigate the complexities of the digital asset landscape.
This regional focus reflects a commitment to building a more open and inclusive financial future. For retail & institutional players, it means access to world-class digital asset products, research, and trading infrastructure that bring new opportunities for economic growth and participation.
The future of finance in Mena
The story of DeFi Technologies reveals a larger shift underway in global finance: the blending of traditional finance systems with decentralized innovation. In the Mena region, this shift is happening very quickly, with both established banks and emerging startups experimenting with open APIs, regulatory sandboxes, and new models of collaboration to propel the industry forward.
DeFi Technologies stands at the center of this movement. The company provides institutional investors with access to more than 65 leading digital assets through exchange-traded products (ETPs), advanced trading infrastructure, and strategic partnerships.
Chase, whose background spans satellite technology, telecommunications, and decentralized finance, brings a rare perspective on the intersection of legacy infrastructure and cutting-edge digital innovation. As a former bitcoin miner and early blockchain advocate, he brings both technical knowledge and cultural insight into the digital asset space.
Outside of his leadership in the boardroom, Chase serves as Executive Director of the Make America Wealthy Again (MAWA) Super PAC, where he advocates for policies that support inclusion and innovation, most notably a 0% capital gains tax on digital assets valued under $1 million. His work is driven by a commitment to building modern financial systems that align with DeFi Technologies' mission to reimagine how finance works in the digital age.