ATME and Arabian Gulf Capital unveil MENA’s first regulated tokenized investment model
In a groundbreaking development for regional financial markets, ATME, the digital assets exchange licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), has introduced the first regulated tokenized investment model in the MENA region. The innovative framework enables brokers and asset managers to issue and trade regulated investment products directly on the ATME platform.
Arabian Gulf Capital became the first entity to launch under this framework, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of tokenized finance. Its inaugural product — a portfolio of fixed-income securities — was fully subscribed within hours of its launch. Each unit was issued as a digitally native token and listed on ATME’s regulated platform, giving investors access to secondary market trading while simplifying operational and compliance processes.
Under the CBB’s regulatory oversight, every investment product issued through the ATME platform undergoes prior approval, ensuring investor protection and market integrity. This model provides a compliant, efficient pathway for investors to access alternative assets through a fully transparent and secure environment.
Maxim Ryabov, Chief Product Officer at ATME, highlighted the importance of this innovation, stating:
“Brokers have traditionally faced high costs and lengthy processes to launch investment products. For the first time in the region, brokers can issue their own trading strategies as regulated products and offer them to clients without the friction of creating separate funds or third-party structures. This breakthrough model combines investor protection with the speed, flexibility, and cost-efficiency of tokenized assets.”
The launch underscores ATME’s mission to modernize capital markets through compliant tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). As ATME expands its marketplace, future issuances will diversify investor access to alternative assets, contributing to the growth of financial innovation in Bahrain and across the wider MENA region.
