meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Navigating the impact of digital currencies on forex markets

23 July 2024

 

The financial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift with the advent and increasing adoption of digital currencies, and as they gain traction, their influence on traditional foreign exchange (forex) markets is becoming more pronounced.

This transition presents both challenges and opportunities for traders and investors, particularly in markets like the UAE, which are rapidly evolving.

The integration of digital currencies into traditional forex markets is already reshaping the financial landscape. For traders and investors in the UAE, this transition necessitates a strategic approach to navigate the volatility, manage risks, diversify portfolios and address liquidity issues effectively.

Digital currencies are characterised by a high degree of volatility and can fluctuate within short period of time. This is unlike traditional fiat currencies, which tend to experience gradual value changes influenced by macroeconomic factors.

Market sentiment can have a significant impact, especially on the less liquid digital currencies. Bitcoin, the most well-known digital currency, has seen its value swing wildly, driven by market sentiment in relation to regulatory news and market developments.

High volatility is a double-edged sword – it carries opportunities, but also amplifies risks. It also creates opportunities, and traders leveraging technical analysis and quick decision-making can capitalise on price swings.

Disparities in liquidity across different exchanges can create arbitrage opportunities for savvy traders, but this requires a high level of research, resources and technical knowledge to be adequately exploited.

Digital currencies can also serve as a hedge against fiat currencies.

In the UAE, where the dirham is pegged to the US dollar, digital currencies can be a means to hedge against dollar exposure. At the same time, the volatility can also expose traders to significant losses, so managing this risk requires sophisticated strategies and tools.

Managing risk

The relative novelty of digital currencies means that they can be subject to speculative bubbles, making it challenging to predict long-term value trends.

Effective risk management is therefore crucial when dealing with digital currencies. The high volatility and 24/7 nature of digital currency markets require traders to adopt robust risk management practices, including the traditional tools that more than ever are key to protection and success.

Implementing stop-loss orders helps to limit potential losses by automatically selling a position when it reaches a predetermined price. Proper position sizing ensures that a single trade does not disproportionately impact the overall portfolio, mitigating the risk of significant losses.

When it comes to using such tools in digital currency trading, traders need to factor in that considerable gaps might form between prices and the available liquidity, making it difficult to trigger stop-losses at the desired prices. Therefore, the position sizing should be determined accordingly.

Another aspect to be considered is the relative lack of historical data: unlike traditional forex markets, digital currencies lack extensive historical data, making it harder to apply conventional risk models.

Even the data set of the most established digital currencies, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, which have a longer history, are to be analysed with caution as the older data refers to a completely different market in terms of liquidity, volume of transaction and actual status of the asset.

Additionally, while major digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum enjoy increasingly higher levels of liquidity, many altcoins suffer from low trading volumes.

Low liquidity in certain digital currencies can lead to significant slippage, where trades are executed at prices different from those expected.

Furthermore, the regulatory environment for digital currencies is still evolving, meaning that unexpected regulatory changes can significantly impact market dynamics and trader positions.

Ensuring the use of reputable exchanges with robust liquidity is essential.

UAE potential

The UAE has shown a progressive attitude towards digital currencies, positioning itself as a hub for blockchain innovation and digital asset adoption.

The government’s proactive stance, coupled with a robust financial infrastructure, creates a healthy and reliable environment for integrating digital currencies as an asset for investment portfolios and trading.

The UAE has established comprehensive regulations to govern digital currencies, enhancing market integrity and investor protection. This regulatory clarity attracts global investors and fosters confidence in digital currency markets.

The involvement of institutional players in the UAE – such as banks and financial institutions – in digital currency markets is also set to grow, and this institutional interest will bring additional liquidity and stability and help mitigate some of the volatility and liquidity issues.

The UAE’s infrastructure supports digital currency transactions and innovation, and this is crucial for the efficient functioning of digital currency markets and their integration with traditional forex trading.

In approaching digital currency for trading and investment, it is crucial for traders to understand the characteristics of the various currencies and ensure that exposure is in line with the investors’ risk appetite and tolerance.

As digital currencies continue to evolve, staying informed and adaptable will be key.

The UAE’s supportive regulatory environment and technological advancements position it well to leverage the benefits of this shift while mitigating the associated risks.

By embracing these changes with a well-rounded strategy, traders and investors can leverage the potential of digital currencies to enhance their trading and investment outcomes.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12177946/main.jpg

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Egypt signs $420m Gabal El-Zeit wind agreements

    10 June 2026

    Egypt has signed agreements worth $420m for the investment, operation and power purchase of the 580MW Gabal El-Zeit wind power complex in the Red Sea region.

    Gabal El-Zeit 1 has a capacity of 240MW, while Gabal El-Zeit 2 and 3 have capacities of 220MW and 120MW, respectively.

    The agreements were signed between Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and Dubai-based Alcazar Energy.

    Under the agreements, Alcazar Energy will invest in, operate and manage the farms through a project company established under Egyptian law.

    The company will be responsible for technical operations, maintenance and efficiency upgrades while maintaining a minimum capacity of 580MW throughout the contract period.

    The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company will purchase the electricity generated by the plant.

    The agreements follow earlier efforts to privatise the Gabal El-Zeit wind complex, involving a deal with UK-headquartered private equity firm Actis.

    According to the Egyptian government, the project supports the country’s state ownership policy and national energy strategy, which aim to increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix to 45%.

    The Gabal El-Zeit area on Egypt’s Red Sea coast is one of the country’s most established wind power development zones. The latest Gabal El-Zeit wind farm was completed in 2014, according to MEED Projects data. Germany’s Siemens Gamesa was the main contractor. 

    > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17170360/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Majid Al-Futtaim awards $545m Ghaf Woods contract to ECC

    10 June 2026

    Majid Al-Futtaim Properties has appointed Engineering Contracting Company (ECC) as the main contractor for the Capria East, Capria West and Maravelle Residences developments at its Ghaf Woods community in Dubai, in a deal valued at AED2bn ($545m).

    The contract covers the construction of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and duplex residences across the two Capria clusters.

    The award adds to a series of major construction contracts Majid Al-Futtaim has issued across its Dubai communities in recent years.

    In May, local contractor Al-Sahel Contracting was awarded a AED700m contract for the Distrikt development, also at Ghaf Woods.

    In 2024, Majid Al-Futtaim awarded AED3bn in contracts for its Tilal Al-Ghaf community, appointing Innovo Build to build 94 waterfront villas at Elysian Mansions and United Engineering Construction (Unec) to deliver 130 villas at the Alaya development.

    > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17170744/main.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • Saudi Arabia and Turkiye sign railway agreements

    10 June 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the railway and logistics sectors, advancing Riyadh’s ambitions to become a global logistics hub.

    Transport and Logistics Services Minister Saleh Al-Jasser and Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu signed the agreements at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on 9 June, following ministerial talks held with a high-level Turkish delegation. Transport General Authority president Fawaz Al-Sahli and officials from the kingdom’s transport and logistics sector were also present.

    Agreement scope

    The first MoU covers logistics services and operations, including the exchange of expertise, policies and regulations. The second focuses on railway technologies, signalling and communication systems, railway digitalisation, human capacity development, the localisation of the railway industry and measures to reduce the sector’s environmental impact.

    More broadly, the agreements cover cooperation on railway standards and related innovations, the exchange of expertise on the design, operation and maintenance of rail projects, and engineering, infrastructure and safety standards.

    The two sides will also cooperate on research and development, with provision for joint workforce training through specialist railway academies.

    Riyadh said the agreements will help support its National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services and Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to position the kingdom as a logistics bridge connecting three continents.

    Turkish projects

    Turkish contractors have already established themselves as key players in the region’s rail sector. In 2012, Yapi Merkezi secured a $2.1bn contract for work on the Haramain high-speed rail network in Saudi Arabia, while Turkish firms Mapa and Limak are leading the ongoing civil works on Dubai’s $5.5bn Metro Blue Line project as part of a China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) consortium. Turkish consultancy Proyapi Muhendislik ve Musavirlik Anonim Sirketi has also won design contracts for the 111km Kuwait National Rail Road project.

    The agreements signed by Saudi Arabia and Turkiye may also give momentum to longstanding discussions around a rail corridor linking the GCC with Turkiye. The route, which has been discussed for years, has gained renewed impetus in recent months as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed regional governments to accelerate the development of overland trade alternatives.

    READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    GCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17169958/main.gif
    Colin Foreman
  • Joint venture tenders Algeria field development contract

    10 June 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Hassi Bir Rekaiz Group (GHBR), which operates Algeria’s Hassi Bir Rekaiz field, has issued a tender for phase 2A of the asset’s field development project.

    GHBR is a joint venture of Algeria’s national oil and gas company Sonatrach and Thailand’s national exploration and production company PTTEP.

    The scope of the contract focuses on the “provision of engineering and supervision services”, according to documents published by Sonatrach.

    The tender has been issued with a bid deadline of 16 June 2026.

    In May, GHBR signed a $1.1bn contract for phase two of the Hassi Bir Rekaiz development project.

    The contract was won by a consortium of Egypt’s Petrojet and Italian engineering and contracting company Arkad.

    Petrojet’s portion of the project was estimated to be worth around $600m, and Arkad’s portion was estimated to be worth $500m.

    The contract used the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning model.

    The scope of the project contract is focused on the construction of a central processing facility (CPF) capable of processing crude oil and associated gas.

    It also includes developing off-plot pipelines, as well as related utilities and infrastructure.

    The CPF will have the capacity to process 32,000 barrels a day (b/d) and will be designed to support future expansions.

    The related infrastructure will include an extensive pipeline network spanning approximately 217 kilometres, as well as a road network.

    READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    GCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17163750/main3325.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Algeria extends deadline for urea-formaldehyde project

    10 June 2026

     

    Algeria’s national oil and gas company Sonatrach has extended the bid deadline for a project to develop a new concentrated urea-formaldehyde unit in its Arzew industrial zone.

    The latest bid deadline is 15 June.  

    The contract uses the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning model, and the bid deadline for technical tender submissions was originally set for early April.

    The condensed urea-formaldehyde unit will be located at the CP1-Z facility.

    The CP1-Z facility began operations in 1975 and has a capacity of 152,000 tonnes a year. It produces products including methanol, resin and formol.

    It is a two-phase tender. The first phase is a technical bid submission, and the second phase is a commercial bid submission.

    To be eligible to win this contract, companies must specialise in petrochemical industrial installation projects.

    They also need to have a share capital of at least $7m and more than 15 years of relevant experience.

    The new unit, UFC85, will have the capacity to produce 40,000 metric tonnes of concentrated and condensed urea-formaldehyde annually.

    The project’s scope also includes the development of auxiliary equipment and installations.

    Urea-formaldehyde has a wide range of uses, including the production of laminates, textiles and paper.

    In the wood industry, it is used as a thermosetting adhesive to bond wood to create plywood and particleboard. In agriculture, urea-formaldehyde is widely used as a slow-release fertiliser.

    READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    GCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17163657/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp