Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Binance Bahrain, becoming the first bank in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to join the Binance Link Program and adopt Binance’s Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) technology.The agreement, announced at the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum Bahrain 2025, is subject to final regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). Once approved, BBK customers will be able to trade and manage crypto assets directly within the BBK mobile banking app, without the need to open a separate exchange account.In-App Crypto Trading via Binance CaaSUnder the partnership, BBK will integrate Binance Bahrain’s white-label Crypto-as-a-Service solution using plug-and-play APIs. This will enable seamless, in-app access to digital assets, allowing customers to:Buy, sell, and manage crypto directly in the BBK mobile appView crypto holdings alongside traditional banking and investment productsExecute transactions through a dedicated crypto dashboardThe integration is designed to deliver a fully embedded crypto experience, combining BBK’s regulated banking infrastructure with Binance’s global crypto technology and liquidity.“This partnership reflects BBK’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric digital transformation,” said Yaser Alsharifi, Group Chief Executive of BBK. “By integrating Binance’s capabilities into our mobile platform, we are empowering our customers with secure, convenient access to a broader range of investment opportunities.”Strengthening Bahrain’s Crypto Hub AmbitionsThe collaboration reinforces Bahrain’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for crypto-asset trading and digital finance, while advancing Binance Bahrain’s mission to scale regulated crypto access through partnerships with traditional financial institutions.“We are proud to collaborate with BBK on this groundbreaking initiative,” said Tameem Al Moosawi, General Manager of Binance Bahrain. “It enhances financial inclusion and further strengthens Bahrain’s leadership in crypto-asset innovation.”Catherine Chen, Head of VIP & Institutional at Binance, added that demand for crypto exposure continues to rise globally, and the partnership enables BBK to offer digital assets to clients securely and at scale.A Milestone for Embedded Crypto Banking in the GulfBy combining BBK’s established retail and corporate banking platform with Binance Bahrain’s regulated crypto infrastructure, the MoU represents a major step forward for embedded crypto banking in the Middle East. The initiative highlights how collaboration between banks and blockchain firms can accelerate adoption, improve accessibility, and set new standards for regulated digital asset services in the region.