Yahoo Finance Spotlights Kurdcoin’s Role in the Middle East

Kurdcoin was featured in a recent Yahoo Finance article exploring how people across the Middle East are using Bitcoin for real-world needs, especially in regions with limited access to traditional banking. The article follows the story of Ghass Mo, a Syrian developer based in Iraqi Kurdistan, who earns bitcoin through freelance work on open-source crypto projects and uses it to support his family.

To convert his bitcoin into local currency, Mo uses Kurdcoin, described in the piece as a local exchange founded in 2017 by Abdurrahman Bapir. The article highlights how Kurdcoin operates in connection with long-standing hawala networks, making it possible for users to receive cash in person after messaging the exchange on platforms like Telegram, Instagram, or Twitter.

The exchange, according to Bapir, has seen trading volumes ranging from $500,000 to $10 million in different months and is supported by a team of ten. He also notes that demand has increased, with 10–20 new client inquiries per day and up to 1,000 leads in a single month. Kurdcoin has recently started offering hardware wallets and is working with legal advisers to explore regulated operations within the Kurdistan region.

The article positions Kurdcoin as part of a broader, informal financial infrastructure that supports freelancers and others earning in crypto across Iraq, Syria, and parts of Iran, particularly in areas where banking access is still limited.