Turkish digital-asset platform Paribu has acquired a majority stake in CoinMENA, the Bahrain- and Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange, in a deal that values the company at up to $240 million. The transaction marks Türkiye’s largest fintech acquisition to date and its first cross-border purchase of a licensed digital-asset platform.

CoinMENA, founded in 2019, operates under licences from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, giving it a regulated footprint in two of the region’s most active crypto jurisdictions. Through the acquisition, Paribu expands from a domestically focused exchange into a player with licensed operations across the Middle East.

Expanding into one of the world’s most crypto-adoptive regions

Paribu CEO Yasin Oral described the acquisition as a significant milestone in the company’s regional expansion. “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,” Oral said.

The deal positions Paribu to leverage CoinMENA’s user base, regulatory reach, and Gulf presence. CoinMENA has grown into one of the region’s most active exchanges, offering trading in multiple digital assets, fiat on-ramps, and compliance-driven operations that have helped it scale across the GCC and beyond.

A strategic move for both platforms

For Paribu, the acquisition accelerates its push beyond trading and into broader regulated financial infrastructure, building on recent efforts to expand custody services and institutional offerings. For CoinMENA, joining Paribu provides deeper access to technology, liquidity, and scale as competition intensifies across global and regional exchanges.

The transaction also signals a maturing phase for the MENA crypto ecosystem, where regulated exchanges continue to attract both institutional attention and cross-border investment.

As Paribu integrates CoinMENA’s operations, the combined platform is expected to expand services across Türkiye, Bahrain, the UAE, and additional regional markets—aligning with growing demand for compliant, locally regulated crypto services.