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Ruya Bank has launched in-app Bitcoin trading, becoming the primary Sharia-compliant bank to permit its customers to purchase and sell the cryptocurrency via a mobile banking app.
According to the bank, the move got here after approval from the Sharia Governance Board and was carried out with a regulated partner to handle custody and settlement.
Sharia recognition and partnership
Ruya said it has worked with Fuze, a regulated virtual asset infrastructure provider, to oversee custody, settlement and compliance for transactions.
The bank described the service as a Sharia-approved investment opportunity and never a tool for quick speculation. Bitcoin is reportedly the primary digital asset to be offered at launch.
Crypto flows and native context within the UAE
Between July 2023 and June 2024, the UAE recorded roughly $30 billion in virtual asset inflows, a 42% increase year-on-year, in line with figures shared along with the launch.
Ruya Bank CEO: Bitcoin is now Shariah compliant – a brand new chapter for Islamic digital finance https://t.co/sijVZfAJne via @unlockbc @myruyabank #islamicFinance #isBitcoinHalal #Shariah_compliant #Bitcoin #adoption #BitcoinNews #UAE
– Unlock Blockchain (@unlockbc) December 8, 2025
This growth has come as regulators within the UAE set clearer rules for virtual asset service providers, making banks and fintechs more willing to incorporate crypto features in regulated apps.
This is how the offer works
Users who meet the bank's conditions could make Bitcoin purchases and sales throughout the Ruya app. Trade settlement and custody is carried out by Fuze in accordance with the agreements described.
The bank says its sharia board has reviewed the structure to make sure compliance with Islamic financial principles, with a concentrate on transparency and clearer risk controls.
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Potential Impact on Muslim Investors
For Muslims who’ve avoided cryptocurrencies for religious reasons, this offers a regulated path inside a longtime bank.
Analysts quoted within the reporting suggested that the move could encourage more conservative savers to carry some Bitcoin in the event that they otherwise wouldn’t have done so.
Acceptance will depend upon demand and whether other Islamic banks follow Ruya's lead.
What comes next
Ruya has signaled that it would consider offering additional virtual assets later, depending on demand and regulatory clarity. The bank reportedly desires to position this service as a part of longer-term wealth planning relatively than short-term trading.
This move marks a remarkable moment: a Sharia-compliant bank integrating Bitcoin trading into its core application with a regulated custodian.
It could expand access for Muslim investors within the UAE and beyond, while testing how Islamic financial rules and modern cryptosystems might be combined in practice.
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