UPDATE: In a groundbreaking move, SILQFi and Helix have just announced a new shariah-compliant tokenized invoice financing initiative aimed at transforming financial access for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Gulf region. This collaboration, revealed on August 23, 2025, leverages Helix’s robust on-chain infrastructure with SILQFi’s deep regional insights to funnel stablecoin capital directly into SME financing, addressing a staggering $5 trillion global financing gap.
This initiative is critical right now, as over 90% of businesses in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are SMEs, yet they receive a mere 9% of traditional bank loans. The projected funding gap for SMEs in the GCC alone exceeds $250 billion, significantly limiting their growth potential and contribution to the economy.
By merging decentralized finance (DeFi) with embedded finance, SILQFi and Helix are poised to unlock new capital sources through tokenized assets, integrating this financing directly into business workflows. The urgency of this development is underscored by the market dynamics: as of August 2025, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) had surpassed $25 billion, with stablecoins accounting for an impressive $267 billion in liquidity.
“We see a real appetite for innovation in the Gulf, and our model allows us to channel capital toward real-world SMEs, minimizing the funding gap for merchants,” stated Mohammed Aldossary, CEO of SILQFi. This partnership not only promises meaningful returns for investors but also aims to significantly enhance financial inclusion across the region.
The SILQFi–Helix collaboration stands out as Helix has recently co-authored a pivotal whitepaper alongside Bank Kenanga and others, indicating that the tokenization of financial products could unveil a potential $43 billion opportunity in Malaysia’s capital markets by 2030. This further validates the potential impact of their joint efforts in the Gulf.
The innovative model allows stablecoin capital to flow seamlessly through Helix’s on-chain protocol while being deployed off-chain via SILQFi’s established infrastructure. This integration ensures liquidity is embedded directly into merchant operations, delivering a level of transparency, decentralization, and speed previously unseen in traditional financing methods.
SILQFi is building on the success of a pilot program launched in early 2025, which effectively financed local SMEs through shariah-compliant, invoice-backed structures, demonstrating strong repayment performance and a profound impact on business growth.
“Stablecoins are the backbone of programmable finance — secure, transparent, and efficient by design,” remarked Jitendra Singh Jaitawat, Co-Founder & CEO of Helix. “This partnership exemplifies how we can turn that promise into tangible outcomes for SMEs.”
With a recent raise of $110 million from key investors such as PIF’s Sanabil Investments and Valar Ventures, SILQFi has already facilitated over $2 billion in SME transactions, financing more than 150,000 invoices across Asia and the Gulf. The urgency of their mission is clear: to redefine access to capital for the world’s most underserved businesses by harnessing the power of blockchain, AI, and Islamic finance.
The collaboration between SILQFi and Helix signals a transformative shift in financial systems, aiming to connect off-chain demand with on-chain capital, thereby creating an inclusive and efficient infrastructure that can drive sustainable economic growth in the region. As the landscape of finance continues to evolve, this initiative could serve as a model for similar efforts worldwide, making financial services more accessible and impactful.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as SILQFi and Helix work to reshape the financial landscape for SMEs in the Gulf.
