Paribu Buys CoinMENA for $240M in Turkey’s Biggest Fintech Deal

Published on: December 5, 2025

Paribu’s acquisition of CoinMENA marks a major milestone as Turkey’s largest fintech deal and its first international crypto exchange purchase.

Key Takeaways

Paribu has acquired Bahrain-based CoinMENA for up to $240 million, making it Turkey’s largest fintech transaction ever.
The deal gives Paribu licensed access to Bahrain and Dubai, two of the MENA region’s most crypto-active markets.
CoinMENA serves over 1.5 million users across 45 countries and supports more than 50 cryptocurrencies and multiple local currencies.
The move reflects the global trend of crypto industry consolidation, with 95 M&A deals recorded in Q3 2025 alone.

What Happened?

Paribu, Turkey’s leading digital asset platform, announced its acquisition of CoinMENA, the largest local crypto exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The $240 million deal marks Turkey’s first cross-border crypto acquisition and the country’s biggest fintech transaction to date.

Today marks an important milestone in Paribu’s global expansion. @ParibuCom is acquiring @CoinMENA in a transaction for up to $240 million, making it the largest fintech acquisition ever announced in Türkiye. (1/3) https://t.co/sujkueMZ9t
— Paribu Ventures (@ParibuVentures) December 5, 2025

A Strategic Expansion Into MENA

With CoinMENA under its umbrella, Paribu gains a critical regulatory foothold in the high-growth markets of Bahrain and Dubai. CoinMENA is licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and the Central Bank of Bahrain, enabling Paribu to operate in both jurisdictions under existing legal frameworks.

This positions Paribu as one of the few regulated multi-jurisdictional operators in the region, giving it a competitive edge amid growing regulatory scrutiny in global crypto markets.

CoinMENA’s Regional Strength

Founded in 2020 by Talal Tabbaa and Dina Sam’an, CoinMENA has quickly grown to become one of the most prominent crypto exchanges in the MENA region. It boasts:

Over 1.5 million users across 45+ countries.
Support for over 50 cryptocurrencies.
Trading in eight local currencies, along with the US dollar.
Nearly $20 million in funding from major investors like BECO, Arab Bank Switzerland, Circle, and Bunat Ventures.

CoinMENA is well-positioned to serve both retail and institutional investors and has built a reputation for regional expertise and regulatory compliance.

Paribu’s Broader Growth Strategy

The acquisition aligns with Paribu’s long-term roadmap of compliance-driven, international growth. In 2024, the company launched Paribu Custody, Turkey’s first native digital asset custody solution featuring its proprietary security technology, ColdShield. By October 2025, Paribu received approval from the Capital Markets Board (CMB) to establish a brokerage firm, marking its entrance into traditional capital markets.

With the CoinMENA deal, Paribu now takes a major leap into international markets, adding strong licensed infrastructure and a sizable user base to its portfolio.

Executive Perspectives on the Deal

Yasin Oral, Founder and CEO of Paribu, described the transaction as:

“

A turning point not only for Paribu but also for the digital asset and broader finance ecosystem in Türkiye and the MENA region. With this acquisition, we have expanded our licensed operations to a wider geography, becoming a regulated player in one of the world’s most crypto-adoptive markets.

He added that CoinMENA is the ideal partner for Paribu’s regional ambitions and that the move opens a new chapter in its global expansion.

In a joint statement, CoinMENA co-founders Talal Tabbaa and Dina Sam’an said:

“

By combining CoinMENA’s regional expertise with Paribu’s technology, we are poised to develop a comprehensive suite of digital asset products for users across Türkiye and the MENA region. This acquisition is the most transformative milestone in CoinMENA’s history.

What Changes for Users?

According to both companies, no immediate changes will be made to the operations of either platform. Users can continue to deposit, withdraw, and trade as usual. The acquisition is expected to enhance product offerings over time, but current services will remain uninterrupted.

CoinLaw’s Takeaway

I found this move by Paribu to be both bold and smart. In my experience, success in the crypto industry heavily depends on regulatory clarity and market reach. By acquiring CoinMENA, Paribu now has both. The MENA region is rapidly adopting digital assets, and having a strong local player like CoinMENA in its corner is a game-changer. What really stands out to me is that Paribu isn’t just growing for the sake of scale, but doing so through licensed, well-regulated channels, which will be crucial for long-term survival in a maturing market.