About this episode
Ralph Gebran, Managing Partner of Onramp MENA, joins David Sencil at the Bitcoin MENA Conference to explain why Bitcoin custody remains the biggest unresolved issue for institutional and sovereign adoption.This conversation explores proactive regulation in the UAE, how Bitcoin is viewed differently from crypto in the region, institutional hesitancy, centralized custody risks, sovereign involvement, and what to expect from Bitcoin adoption across MENA in 202600:00 Custody Challenges in Bitcoin Adoption01:10 Bitcoin's Historical Context in MENA04:41 Regulatory Approaches in the GCC07:32 Public Perception of Bitcoin in the UAE09:40 Regulatory Nuances Across UAE Regions11:53 Institutional Perspectives on Bitcoin13:36 Institutional Adoption Trends in MENA18:01 Custody Solutions for Institutions23:04 Sovereign Wealth and Bitcoin Investments27:24 Future Outlook for Bitcoin in MENA
