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🎙️💜 Building amana – Matthew Carstens on Shaping amana’s Vision: Zero-Commission, ⚡ High-Impact Disruption Story 🚀
Description
In this episode of Blockchain DXB, George sits down with Matthew Carstens, Director of Product Experience at amana, to dive into Bitcoin, crypto adoption, user experience, and how amana is reshaping investing in the MENA region with a mobile-first, zero-commission approach.
📬 Connect with Matthew – Best reached via Twitter (@MatthewCarstens) or LinkedIn here
💜 Connect with amana
- IG @chooseamana
- X @chooseamana
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/chooseamana
- LinkedIn here
- Youtube here
- Tiktok here
✨ Highlights from the conversation:
🙌 Matthew’s Bitcoin Journey – From skepticism to conviction, Matt shares how he first dismissed Bitcoin, later went all-in, and why he sees it as “digital gold.”
📉 Volatility & Geopolitics – Discussion on short-term price swings, ETF inflows/outflows, and how global events like interest rate decisions shape crypto markets.
👥 People > Product > Tech – Why Matt believes people should always come first in business, and how he applies this principle at amana.
📱 amana’s Transformation – The story behind shifting into a mobile-first, zero-commission trading platform, and the challenges of connecting 6 MENA exchanges into one seamless app.
🌍 Expansion & Growth – Insights into amana’s focus on the MENA region and its competitive edge as a regional native broker.
📊 User-Driven Innovation – From Sharia-compliant watchlists to faster withdrawals, Matt explains how user feedback drives amana’s roadmap.
🪙 Crypto Narratives – Deep dive into stablecoins, the Genius Act, Ethereum’s role, and the rise of treasury firms putting BTC & ETH on balance sheets.
🚀 Top Picks & Flops – Matt names the cryptocurrencies he believes will thrive (BTC, ETH, SOL, Aave) and the ones he warns against (celebrity meme coins).
🏦 Crypto in MENA – Why UAE and the region are becoming global leaders in adoption, and how amana tailors its platform for both beginners and seasoned traders.
🏠 RWA Tokenization – The potential of real-world asset tokenization in Dubai, and amana’s cautious approach toward liquidity and user accessibility.
📈 Macro Trends – How interest rates, inflation data, and FOMC meetings influence crypto and trading volumes.
🤖 AI & Finance – Matt’s take on AI shaping markets, how amana is integrating AI-driven features (translations, news summaries, personalization),