CFI Bahrain Introduces Regulated Stablecoin Funding Through Partnership with ARP Digital

Manama, Bahrain: CFI Financial Group, a globally recognized leader in online trading services, today announced that its Bahrain entity, CFI Financial (Bahrain) B.S.C. (c) (“CFI Bahrain”), has received approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) to enable clients to fund their trading accounts using the stablecoins USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin), positioning CFI among the first regulated brokers in the region to offer this capability. 

The new funding solution is delivered in partnership with ARP Digital Bahrain B.S.C. Closed (“ARP Digital”), a CBB-licensed Capital Market – Crypto-Asset Service Provider. Under the arrangement, ARP Digital manages the crypto settlement processing infrastructure, including dedicated wallet generation, transaction screening, risk scoring, stablecoin-to-fiat conversion and settlement. CFI Bahrain receives fiat currency only and does not at any point custody, exchange or otherwise deal in crypto-assets directly. 

Ziad Melhem, CEO of CFI Financial Group, said: “Growth and scale bring obligations, not just opportunities, and this launch reflects that principle. Stablecoin funding gives clients a faster, more flexible way to access their trading accounts, and we were determined to introduce it in a way that matches the standards of governance and client protection we hold ourselves to everywhere we operate. We're grateful to the Central Bank of Bahrain for its engagement throughout this process, and to ARP Digital for being the right partner to deliver this responsibly.”

Yaseen AlSamerrai, CEO of CFI Bahrain, said: “We are pleased to introduce regulated stablecoin funding at CFI Bahrain, giving clients a secure and efficient way to fund their trading accounts while maintaining the highest standards of compliance. This builds on our efforts to broaden the ways clients can access global markets through CFI, and reflects the strength of our partnership with ARP Digital in delivering this capability responsibly.”

Abdulla Kanoo, Co-CEO and Co-founder of ARP Digital, added: “Markets do not wait for banking hours. Stablecoin funding settles in minutes rather than days, at any hour, without passing through a correspondent chain, which for an active trader is the difference between funding in time to act and funding after the opportunity has passed. The challenge has always been offering that inside a regulated perimeter, and that is what the infrastructure behind this is for. CFI moved early, and with the Central Bank of Bahrain's engagement it becomes a model others in the region can follow”.

For clients, the addition of stablecoin funding means a faster, more flexible way to fund trading accounts, particularly for those already active in digital assets. It expands the range of funding methods available at CFI Bahrain and reflects CFI's continued investment in technology that reduces friction across the client journey, from onboarding through to funding and trading.

About CFI: 

Established in 1998, CFI Financial Group is a globally recognized leader in online trading and investing. With more than 25 years of experience as a regulated online trading provider, advanced technology and premium service, CFI delivers seamless access to global and local markets on highly competitive terms, across equities, currencies, commodities and more, from key financial centers including London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cape Town, Baku, Beirut, Amman, Cairo and Bogotá. CFI is committed to building long-term client relationships and supporting traders at every stage of their journey. Its Global Brand Ambassadors, Seven-Time Formula One™ World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton and Tennis Legend Maria Sharapova, together with partnerships across leading sports and cultural institutions including the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the Lebanese Basketball Federation and the Jordan Football Association, reflect a shared commitment to innovation, performance and success while supporting cultural and community initiatives worldwide.

About ARP Digital
ARP Digital is a regulated digital capital infrastructure platform headquartered in Bahrain. The firm operates an integrated suite of institutional services, including an OTC liquidity desk, international corridor settlement rails, on- and off-ramp conversion infrastructure, and regulated wealth management services. ARP Digital Bahrain is licensed as a Category 3 Capital Markets – Crypto Assets Service Provider by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), and ARP Digital FZCO has secured a Broker-Dealer licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The firm was founded by Abdulla Kanoo, CEO (ARP Digital Bahrain), and Abdulaziz Kanoo, CEO (ARP Digital FZCO) – fifth-generation members of the GCC's 135-year-old Kanoo Group. ARP Digital serves institutional investors, exchange houses, global payment companies, and high-net-worth individuals across the Gulf Cooperation Council and international markets. To learn more about ARP Digital, visit: https://arpdigital.io/