CoinMENA: Turkey’s Paribu Acquires Majority Stake, Valued at $240M

When we heard that Paribu, a leading crypto platform in Türkiye, bought a majority stake in CoinMENA, the news caught our attention immediately. The acquisition values CoinMENA at up to USD 240 million. This deal is not just big for the two companies. It stands as Türkiye’s largest fintech transaction ever, and the first time a Turkish digital‑asset firm has bought a cross‑border crypto platform. With this move, Paribu and CoinMENA aim to create a stronger, regulated platform that links Türkiye and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The deal signals a shift, growth that crosses borders and embraces regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.

Who Is CoinMENA?

CoinMENA started in 2019. Its founders, Talal Tabbaa, Dina Sam’an, and Yazan Barghuthi, created a crypto exchange based in Bahrain and Dubai. The platform is licensed by both the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai. That’s a strong foundation. CoinMENA lets people in the MENA region buy, sell, send, and receive cryptocurrencies. Users can trade using their local currency. The platform supports more than 50 digital assets and works across many countries.

The mission of CoinMENA is simple: make crypto investing easy and safe across MENA. They aim to offer fair fees, good liquidity, secure transactions, and support education around crypto investing.

Who Is Paribu?

Paribu is a top digital asset exchange in Türkiye. Until now, it primarily served Turkish users, offering crypto trading and related services. Recently, Paribu has moved aggressively into new areas. For example, in 202,4 it launched “Paribu Custody”, a custody solution built around a security architecture called ColdShield, designed for secure storage of digital assets. Just before the acquisition, in October 2025, Paribu got regulatory approval from Türkiye’s capital markets regulator (the Capital Markets Board, or CMB) to establish a brokerage firm, a sign of its broader ambitions.

What Exactly Happened in the Acquisition?

On December 5, 2025, Paribu announced that it had acquired a majority stake in CoinMENA. The purchase values CoinMENA at up to USD 240 million. The deal marks two major firsts: It is the largest fintech transaction in Türkiye’s history and the first time a Turkish crypto company has acquired a foreign digital‑asset platform. Through the acquisition, Paribu gains access to CoinMENA’s licenses in Bahrain and Dubai. That means Paribu becomes a regulated operator across multiple regions.

From CoinMENA’s side, joining with Paribu brings new technology, deeper resources, and access to a broader user base. According to Paribu’s founder and CEO, Yasin Oral, this is a “turning point”, a step toward building a big, multi‑region crypto company.

What Does This Mean  For Users and the Region

For people in MENA and Türkiye, the new combined platform could mean more choice. Because CoinMENA already supports local currencies and multiple payment methods, while Paribu brings security, custody, and robust infrastructure, together they can offer smoother, safer trading. Regulatory compliance is a big plus. Because licenses from Bahrain’s CBB and Dubai’s VARA come with strict rules, users may get more trust and protection.

Also, the deal signals bigger moves in crypto markets globally: regional firms merging to build stronger, regulated, cross‑border exchanges. This might encourage more innovation and stability in MENA crypto. For Paribu, this gives a ready-made platform with an existing user base in 45+ countries, plus access to over 50 cryptocurrencies using many local currencies. That could support future growth and expansion into new markets.

Challenges and What to Watch

But merging two platforms across countries is not simple. There may be integration challenges: aligning technology, compliance standards, and customer support across different languages and regions. Also, regulatory environments in MENA and Türkiye differ. Crypto laws and financial‑asset rules could shift. Paribu and CoinMENA will need to stay flexible and compliant. Finally, competition in the crypto field is rising. Other global exchanges and local players may react to this big merger; the next few months will be crucial.

What’s Next,  What to Expect

We may see new features coming soon. Combining Paribu’s custody solutions with CoinMENA’s regional reach might bring advanced services, like custody for institutional clients in MENA, local‑currency trading, or broader crypto offerings. Users might benefit from improved user experience, more coins, better liquidity, and possibly lower fees. For the region, this could boost trust in crypto investing and encourage adoption. For Paribu and CoinMENA, this may only be the start. The acquisition has strong signals: they aim to build a major regional hub for crypto, one that could later expand further, maybe to Africa, South Asia, or beyond.

Conclusion

The takeover of CoinMENA by Paribu is more than just a business transaction. It is a landmark in regional crypto history. The $240 million deal, the cross‑border nature, and the regulatory licenses together reflect a new chapter for crypto in MENA and Türkiye. For users, the merger promises better access, regulation, and services. For the industry, it shows that consolidation and compliance may shape the future of digital assets. From where we stand, this could be the beginning of a more connected, safer, and bigger crypto ecosystem across the Middle East and beyond.

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Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.