ARP Digital Partners with DV Trading to Pioneer Digital Asset Products in MENA

ARP Digital Holdings is gearing up for a major push in digital asset wealth management, and the latest move out of Manama suggests the firm is in no mood to take things slow. The company has joined forces with DV Trading and its Centaur Markets desk to roll out a fresh slate of structured products tied to digital assets—initially targeting clients in the Middle East, pending regulatory approval. It’s quite the step up for a region where, not too long ago, even discussing crypto products with institutions felt like a bit of a faff.

The partnership leans heavily on DV Trading’s background in liquidity provision, market making and derivatives, while ARP Digital brings the client base and regional footprint. One detail that caught my eye is how Centaur Markets will act as a dedicated liquidity provider; that alone could help avoid the usual market hiccups that plague similar products. As Abdulla Kanoo, Co-CEO of ARP Digital Holdings, put it, the collaboration marks “a significant milestone” and builds on the company’s launch of the region’s first digital asset-linked structured product last year. I reckon that’s a sign they’re trying to position themselves squarely between digital assets and more traditional financial engineering.

Steering this new chapter is Anestis Arampatzis, who’s stepping in as Group CIO and Global Head of Assets & Wealth Management. He previously co-led Centaur Markets, so the transition seems almost spot on. He noted that regulated digital wealth products are gaining momentum across the region thanks to clearer rules and rising interest from institutions and sophisticated investors. And believe it or not, that’s something we’ve also heard echoed by founders around the Gulf whenever Arageek dives into investment trends with them.

The broader ambition behind the alliance was echoed by ARP Digital’s other Co-CEO, Abdulaziz Kanoo, who said the collaboration will strengthen their ability to deliver customised investment options. He was also “thrilled” to welcome Arampatzis and his team, highlighting their alignment with the firm’s long-term vision. On the flip side, building out a global offering in such a fast-moving sector is no walk in the park—well… I mean, even seasoned teams can find the pace a bit unforgiving.

DV Trading’s Co-Founder, Jared Vegosen, described the partnership as a chance to widen access to institutional markets and scale their structured product capabilities. With ARP Digital connecting them to investors across the Middle East, he expects they’ll be able to offer tailored, institutional-grade solutions more efficiently. For investors seeking better risk-adjusted returns in both digital and traditional markets, that could be a welcome shift—though, as always, the proof will come when these products actually hit the market.

From what I’ve seen across the MENA entrepreneurship scene, collaborations like this often signal that a sector is maturing. And if the region keeps moving at its current pace, digital asset wealth management might just become a standard part of the investment landscape sooner than people expect, even if it still feels a bit ramdom to some observers today.

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