Core Insights - The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) has formed a strategic partnership with Franklin Templeton to enhance education and industry standards in alternative investments [1][2] - This collaboration aims to address the evolving landscape of investments, particularly the increasing importance of alternative investments in portfolio construction [2][4] Company Overview - Franklin Templeton has been active in the Middle East for over 20 years, establishing operations in the UAE in 2000 and being one of the first international asset managers in the Dubai International Financial Centre in 2004 [5] - The firm manages over $5 billion in Shariah-compliant assets as of October 2025, reflecting its commitment to Islamic finance and the regional market [5] Partnership Objectives - The partnership will focus on several initiatives, including the CAIA Charter program, sponsorship of CAIA Chapter events, and the development of a new Islamic Finance microcredential set to launch in 2026 [7] - A collaborative research report will be produced to analyze the Gulf's transition from a capital exporter to a global private capital hub [7] Industry Context - The partnership is positioned to respond to the growing client interest in private capital and alternative investments, emphasizing the need for ongoing education and professionalization in the industry [3][4] - The collaboration reflects a broader trend of blurring lines between public and private markets, driven by factors such as artificial intelligence and geopolitical instability [2]

uae's ruya platform just made bitcoin sharia-compliant. $3.8 trillion islamic finance market couldn't touch btc before this. saudi arabia alone has $1 trillion in sharia assets. etfs bleeding $2.7b over 6 weeks into sovereign wealth funds buying otc at $80k. religious barrier gone. ...

RT CoinDesk Podcast Network (@CoinDeskPodcast)BLOCKSPACE POD w/ @allenf32 & @harris_irfan: Bitcoin & Islamic Finance, in partnership with @blockspace!"If we do end up using Bitcoin as money, it is overwhelmingly likely that the principles guiding financial intermediation just will be Islamic."We discuss:⚡ Islamic banking = oxymoron⚡ Bitcoin & Islamic Golden Age⚡ Fractional Reserve vs Bitcoin standard👇🇨🇦⤵️ 🍕 ...

Regulatory Approval - Malaysia approves its first Islamic digital bank using stablecoins [1] Digital Finance - The approval signifies a move towards integrating digital assets within Islamic finance [1]

Group 1: Company Overview - Fasset has received approval from Malaysia to launch full-service digital banking services within a regulated Islamic fintech sandbox, making it the world's first stablecoin-powered Islamic digital bank [1] - The platform currently serves over 500,000 users across 125 countries and aims to provide access to Shariah-compliant financial products [2] - Fasset has built a solid foundation in Islamic finance, recording over $6 billion in annualized trading volume, projected to reach $24 billion by 2026 [4] Group 2: Services and Offerings - Fasset is introducing everyday banking services, global investments, and crypto-backed spending options, including a crypto debit card that allows users to spend cryptocurrencies in Visa-supported stores [2][5] - The company plans to provide zero-interest banking products along with access to crypto investment [5] Group 3: Industry Context - The global Islamic finance industry surpassed $5 trillion in assets in 2025, but Shariah-compliant financial products remain largely inaccessible across the pan-Islamic belt [4] - Fasset's expansion comes amid a surge in crypto adoption across Asia, where around 23–24% of people hold or use digital assets, nearly three times the global average [6]