Balkan Startup Village is turning the Split Technology Park into a full-blown playground for founders, builders, and Web3 misfits who are actually here to get things done. Less talk, more coworking. Less hype, more pitch decks.
You’ll find everything from hands-on workshops and panels (think DePIN, AI, infra, gaming, Web3 marketing: you know, the stuff we all keep saying we need to “double down on”) to casual fireside chats, a solid Demo Day, and yes – a couple of airsoft battles and city tours to balance it out.
No ticket fees. No velvet ropes. Just open space to build, learn, and meet people who are actually building cool stuff, like the folks from Solana ID, Metaplex, Solflare, dReader, Ceres, Kamino Finance, Limechain and a bunch more.
Come early to claim your coworking corner, drop into a few panels, or stick around for Demo Day and catch some of the region’s sharpest startups pitching live. There’s even a podcast zone, career speed dating (still cooking), and a founder’s dinner if you’re lucky enough to score an invite.
They’re tagging along as a media partner, so expect interviews, daily recaps, and behind-the-scenes coverage straight from Split. But honestly, you kind of have to be there.
Ripple has received full approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)to offer regulated crypto payments in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
It makes Ripple the first blockchain-enabled payments provider licensed by the DFSA, significantly expanding its operations in the Middle East.
Ripple Receives Full Approval from the DFSA
This development follows Ripple’s in-principle financial services approval from the DFSA in October. With its regional headquarters in Dubai since 2020, Ripple continues strengthening its presence in a region known for its regulatory clarity and fintech-friendly environment.
The DFSA license enables Ripple to offer its global payment solutions to businesses in the UAE. This would reinforce its role as a trusted partner for financial institutions looking to leverage blockchain technology for faster and more cost-effective transactions.
“We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption. Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit,” a press release shared with BeInCrypto read, citing Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
Indeed, Dubai has established itself as a global hub for blockchain and fintech innovation. It boasts a $400 billion international trade market. The UAE has seen growing demand from both crypto-native firms and traditional financial (TradFi) institutions looking for solutions to inefficiencies in cross-border payments. These include high fees, slow settlement times, and lack of transparency.
“Securing this DFSA license…will enable us to better serve the growing demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border transactions in one of the world’s largest cross-border payments hubs,” Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Reece Merrick, emphasized.
In the same tone, DIFC Authority CEO, His Excellency Arif Amiri, said this milestone presents Ripple with new growth opportunities across the region and beyond. Ripple’s regulatory approval in Dubai adds to its growing list of over 60 regulatory licenses worldwide.
Despite its success in Dubai, Ripple remains embroiled in a legal battle with the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). However, recent reports indicate that the case may soon be resolved. Reportedly, Ripple’s legal team is negotiating more favorable terms regarding an August 2023 district court ruling.
The ruling imposed a $125 million fine and restricted Ripple from selling XRP to institutional investors. Ripple’s team argues that the firm should not be penalized for past regulatory uncertainty. This contention is based on theSEC’s reconsideration of its enforcement stance against other crypto firms.
“…Accepting the Torres ruling as it stands would mean that Ripple is essentially agreeing to admit to wrongdoing — but now the SEC itself is seemingly unsure whether any wrongdoing occurred. There’s no real playbook for this kind of thing, which could explain why this case is taking longer to resolve than the rest,” crypto journalist Eleanor Terret reported, citing two well-placed sources.
Ethereum (ETH) is facing a sharp correction, dropping 11% over the past week as bearish momentum continues to dominate. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains weak, showing a lack of strong buying pressure, while the Directional Movement Index (DMI) confirms that sellers are still in control.
Additionally, the Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) are in a firmly bearish structure, suggesting that ETH could soon test critical support levels at $1,756 and potentially fall below $1,700 for the first time since October 2023.
ETH RSI Shows the Lack Of Buying Pressure
Ethereum Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 34.4, recovering slightly after briefly dipping to 27.4 yesterday. The RSI has remained below the 50 mark for three consecutive days, signaling that bearish momentum is still dominant.
The RSI measures the speed and magnitude of recent price changes to assess whether an asset is overbought or oversold.
Typically, an RSI above 70 indicates overbought conditions, suggesting potential for a pullback, while an RSI below 30 signals oversold conditions, implying that selling pressure may be overextended and a bounce could be imminent.
With ETH’s RSI now at 34.4, it suggests that while the asset is still in bearish territory, the extreme selling pressure seen yesterday has eased slightly.
The brief dip below 30 signaled an oversold condition, which often leads to short-term relief rallies. However, for ETH to regain bullish momentum, the RSI would need to climb back above 50, indicating a shift in market sentiment.
Until then, any upward movement could face resistance, and the broader trend remains weak unless sustained buying pressure pushes ETH out of this bearish zone.
Ethereum DMI Shows The Current Downtrend Is Strong
Ethereum Directional Movement Index (DMI) chart shows that its Average Directional Index (ADX) is currently at 29.82, rising from 21.9 yesterday.
The ADX measures the strength of a trend, with values above 25 indicating a strong trend and readings below 20 suggesting a weak or nonexistent trend. Given the ADX’s sharp increase, it confirms that ETH’s ongoing downtrend is strengthening.
The +DI (positive directional index) has dropped to 15.4 from 23.1 in the past day, while the -DI (negative directional index) has surged to 37.8 from 27.3, reinforcing the dominance of sellers in the market.
With the -DI significantly above the +DI, it signals that bearish momentum is intensifying, and sellers continue to control ETH’s price action.
The decline in +DI suggests that buying pressure is weakening, making it more difficult for ETH to stage a recovery. Unless the +DI begins to rise and crosses above the -DI, ETH’s price is likely to remain under pressure.
Given that the ADX is nearing 30 and still climbing, the downtrend appears well-established, and any short-term relief rallies may face strong resistance before a meaningful trend reversal can occur.
Ethereum Is Still Struggling Below $2,000
Ethereum Exponential Moving Average (EMA) lines are displaying a strongly bearish setup, with short-term EMAs positioned below long-term ones.
This alignment confirms the continuation of downward momentum, with ETH having dropped over 11% in the last 24 hours. If the current trend persists, ETH could test the critical support at $1,756, a level that could determine whether further declines are imminent.
A breakdown below this support would expose Ethereum’s price to a potential drop below $1,700, a level not seen since October 2023, further reinforcing bearish sentiment in the market.
However, if ETH manages to reverse its downtrend, the first key resistance to reclaim would be at $1,996. A successful breakout above this level could trigger a stronger recovery, pushing ETH toward the next resistance at $2,320.
If bullish momentum accelerates, Ethereum could extend gains toward $2,546, a level that would mark a complete shift in trend structure.
For this to happen, ETH would need sustained buying pressure and a bullish EMA crossover, signaling a transition out of its current bearish phase.
