Ralph Gebran, Managing Partner of Onramp MENA, joins David Sencil at the Bitcoin MENA Conference to explain why Bitcoin custody remains the biggest unresolved issue for institutional and sovereign adoption.
This conversation explores proactive regulation in the UAE, how Bitcoin is viewed differently from crypto in the region, institutional hesitancy, centralized custody risks, sovereign involvement, and what to expect from Bitcoin adoption across MENA in 2026

00:00 Custody Challenges in Bitcoin Adoption
01:10 Bitcoin's Historical Context in MENA
04:41 Regulatory Approaches in the GCC
07:32 Public Perception of Bitcoin in the UAE
09:40 Regulatory Nuances Across UAE Regions
11:53 Institutional Perspectives on Bitcoin
13:36 Institutional Adoption Trends in MENA
18:01 Custody Solutions for Institutions
23:04 Sovereign Wealth and Bitcoin Investments
27:24 Future Outlook for Bitcoin in MENA

Why Bitcoin Custody Still Isn’t Solved | Ralph Gebran (Onramp MENA)