Aquanow and SGB Forge Global Crypto Banking Link

Akash Kumar

• August 15, 2025
• ⋅
• 2 min read

Aquanow, a Canadian company that provides digital asset infrastructure, has teamed up with SGB, a fully licensed digital bank regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, to make it easier for businesses and institutions in the digital asset sector to use fiat banking services. This partnership is likely to set new standards for financial connectivity, filling in the gaps between traditional finance and the rapidly growing world of cryptocurrencies.

SGB is the only bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that can digitally onboard clients from all over the world. The Bahrain sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and the Singaporean Whampoa Group support SGB. It lets Aquanow’s clients, which include exchanges, payment companies, and fintech firms, open USD bank accounts and settle trades using the bank’s SWIFT membership and regulatory framework. You can do transactions in USD, AED, SAR, BHD, SGD, EUR, HKD, and CNH at any time of day or night, which makes settlements happen right away.

The partnership also connects Aquanow’s crypto services with SGB’s secure banking network and SGB Net, a fast payment platform. Clients can quickly switch between fiat and cryptocurrencies, which is an important feature for both institutional users and everyday crypto users. This integration should make it possible for both retail and institutional account holders to use on- and off-ramps in the future. This will greatly improve the global crypto banking experience.

Effects and Future Outlook

The partnership comes at a time when the MENA and Asia regions are adopting more progressive rules and more institutions are using digital assets. Aquanow and SGB are helping to break down long-standing barriers, which will make it easier for businesses to work in a compliant, borderless financial environment. Phil Sham, the CEO of Aquanow, stressed how important it is to have reliable infrastructure for operations that can grow. Shawn Chan, the CEO of SGB, called the partnership “a big step forward in bridging digital assets with regulated banking.”

Aquanow and SGB are making the financial system more open, adaptable, and safe by combining compliant banking infrastructure with new digital assets. Their partnership sets a new standard for the industry, making it easier for fiat and crypto to work together and marking a major step forward in the development of global financial services.

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