Rain Acquires Saudi Media Firm Digital Ma’arefa to Support MENA Expansion
Crypto exchange Rain has acquired Saudi financial media platform Digital Ma’arefa as part of its broader strategy to expand cryptocurrency access across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), according to the company.
Digital Ma’arefa is the publisher of The Finance Memo, Crypto Memo, and AI Memo. Over the past five years, the platform has built an audience of more than one million followers, giving Rain access to an established media network with a strong regional reach.
As part of the transaction, Digital Ma’arefa co-founders Abdullah Mashat, Wael AlMutlaq, and Abdullah Fageih will join Rain. The company also said Mashat has been appointed Managing Director to lead its regional expansion efforts.
Rain said the media team will be integrated into its operations over the coming months. It added that the existing newsletters and news networks will remain unchanged following the acquisition.
“Mashat and the Digital Ma’arefa team have grown the most trusted voice in crypto,” said AJ Nelson, Co-Founder of Rain. “We are happy they will be joining the most trusted crypto exchange.”
The acquisition comes as financial and crypto companies increasingly look to combine distribution, audience trust, and specialised content capabilities as part of regional growth strategies. In this case, Rain appears to be strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA market by adding a media platform with an established following and focused coverage in finance, crypto, and artificial intelligence.
While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the move highlights Rain’s intent to deepen its regional footprint beyond exchange services alone. By bringing in a media business with a strong audience base, the company may be aiming to improve brand visibility, audience engagement, and market education around digital assets.
Industry Analysis
This acquisition reflects a broader trend in the information services sector, where buyers are increasingly targeting niche media brands with loyal communities. For crypto firms, the value of such platforms extends beyond content distribution: they can support education, trust-building, and customer acquisition in markets where digital asset adoption is still developing.
In MENA, where regulated access to crypto remains a key issue, partnerships and acquisitions involving media and fintech businesses may become more common as companies seek scalable ways to reach users and expand their market presence.
