# Turkish Fintech Paribu Expands Footprint with CoinMENA Acquisition

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: Dec 5, 2025*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/turkish-fintech-paribu-expands-middle-east-north-africa-footprint-with-coinmena-acquisition*

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Turkish fintech giant Paribu is making a major regional play, acquiring crypto exchange CoinMENA for $240M to gain regulated entry into Dubai and Bahraini crypto markets, two of the Middle East’s most competitive licensing hubs.

### What's the Scoop?
- **Regional Expansion:** Already a crypto tycoon in Turkey, Paribu's acquisition of CoinMENA – the largest locally operated crypto exchange in the Middle East and North Africa – positions it to dominate Middle Eastern crypto markets.
- **New Licenses:** The acquisition supplies Paribu with a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai’s VARA and a Crypto Asset Service Provider license from Bahrain’s Central Bank, granting it instant access to two of the Middle East's most lucrative crypto markets.
- **Major Move:** The deal represents Turkey's largest fintech transaction to date and the country's first cross-border acquisition of a digital asset platform. In a [statement](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paribu-has-acquired-coinmena-menas-largest-local-crypto-exchange-in-a-transaction-valued-at-up-to-usd-240-million-302633481.html) about the merger, Paribu CEO Yasin Oral touted CoinMENA as an ideal acquisition target for its regional expansion. 

> We’re excited to share that CoinMENA has been acquired by [@ParibuCom](https://twitter.com/ParibuCom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) in a transaction valued at up to USD 240 million!This acquisition strengthens our global presence, accelerates innovation, and allows us to deliver even more value and opportunities to our users across MENA… [pic.twitter.com/HrkC4uZpRy](https://t.co/HrkC4uZpRy)— CoinMENA | كوين مينا (@CoinMENA) [December 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/CoinMENA/status/1996851305394978877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)