In a move aimed at accelerating the adoption of regulated digital money across international markets, Arab Bank’s fintech accelerator, AB Xelerate, has announced a strategic investment in Ubyx Inc., a next-generation infrastructure provider for tokenised deposits and regulated stablecoins.
The announcement, made on February 19, 2026, underscores the growing importance of digital money solutions that can operate securely and compliantly across borders, especially as regulated digital assets transition from pilot projects into real-world financial systems.
What This Investment Means
Ubyx is focused on building a shared network that connects regulated financial institutions, enabling them to issue, accept and redeem digital money — including tokenised deposits and stablecoins — at par value across multiple blockchains and jurisdictions. The platform is designed to function within existing regulatory and compliance frameworks, addressing one of the key challenges in scaling digital financial services globally.
By investing in Ubyx, AB Xelerate is signaling confidence in this infrastructure-based approach, which aims to bridge traditional banking systems with emerging digital finance ecosystems. This partnership is expected to support international trade, liquidity management and settlement processes that are increasingly digital in nature.
Voices from the Leaders
Hala Zahan, Head of AB Xelerate, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment:
“Digital assets and stablecoins represent a major opportunity for financial innovation in the MENA region. Our investment with Ubyx reflects our confidence in their infrastructure and their ability to support the secure, compliant, and scalable adoption of this emerging ecosystem.”
From Ubyx’s side, CEO Tony McLaughlin emphasized the broader vision:
“The future of digital money depends on global networks, not isolated platforms. For digital money to scale, it must move seamlessly across institutions, markets and jurisdictions while retaining par-value integrity and regulatory confidence.”
Strategic Focus and Regional Impact
A key aspect of this collaboration is enhancing cross-border financial connectivity between the Middle East and global markets. As digital money plays a growing role in areas like treasury operations, international trade and payments, platforms like Ubyx could become foundational pieces of future financial infrastructure.
AB Xelerate, the corporate venture arm of Arab Bank, operates at the intersection of strategic investment and fintech innovation, identifying and supporting technologies that align with the bank’s broader goals and emerging market trends.
Looking Ahead
While specific financial details of the investment were not disclosed, the partnership reflects a broader trend of traditional financial institutions engaging deeply with regulated digital asset infrastructure. As global financial markets evolve, collaborations like this may help bridge gaps between legacy banking systems and innovative digital payment rails — ultimately supporting more efficient, compliant and interconnected financial ecosystems.
