MENA Crypto Volume Hits $350B as Gulf Markets Accelerate - Crypto News Flash

MENA’s annual on-chain crypto volume has surged to roughly $350 billion, according to a Sept. 4 analysis from the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI). Turkey remains the region’s biggest market, approaching $200 billion per year, but growth is accelerating in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia is leading with 154% year-over-year growth, followed by Qatar at 120%. The UAE processed about $150 billion in crypto transactions during 2025. BPI says adoption in MENA is diverging: in countries facing currency depreciation, sanctions, or geopolitical instability—such as Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iran—crypto can function as a substitute financial channel and help preserve purchasing power via Bitcoin and U.S.-dollar-backed stablecoins. Gulf markets, by contrast, show more institutional participation, regulation, and government-backed digital transformation.