Binance launches $1m USDC rewards campaign for users in MENA and Pakistan, where half of its customers are under 30

Binance has launched Qafila 2026, a $1 million USDC rewards campaign for eligible users in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Pakistan, as the exchange reports that half of its customers in the region are aged 18 to 29. The share rises to 54% in Pakistan, according to Binance’s own figures.

Qafila 2026 targets growing demand among young crypto users

The initiative arrives as cryptocurrency platforms compete to attract and retain users by offering more than spot trading. Through Qafila 2026, Binance is seeking to connect eligible customers with services spanning trading, earning opportunities, payments, financial education and community participation.

The $1 million USDC reward pool is central to the campaign, although it does not mean every participant will receive a reward or that the entire amount will be distributed equally. The available activities and reward conditions depend on the applicable market rules and each user’s eligibility.

Binance describes the initiative as a celebration of its regional community and the different financial goals of its users. Its strategy reflects a broader effort among digital asset companies to develop products that encourage customers to remain active across multiple services rather than use an exchange for a single transaction.

The company’s regional figures suggest that younger adults are an important audience for this approach. With half of its MENA and Pakistan user base aged between 18 and 29, Binance has an established pool of younger customers whose financial habits may influence demand for digital investment products in the years ahead.

Pakistan stands out in the company’s data, with this age group representing 54% of its users in the country. That share exceeds the combined regional figure and highlights the importance of younger customers in Binance’s market strategy.

Still, the demographic figures represent Binance’s own user base. They should not be interpreted as evidence that half of all people in MENA or Pakistan use the exchange, or that cryptocurrency adoption across the entire population has reached a similar level.

Binance reports rising engagement across its financial ecosystem

Beyond age demographics, Binance said 52.9% of its verified users across MENA and Pakistan had engaged with at least two of its products. The United Arab Emirates recorded the highest rate, at 69.3%, followed by Bahrain at 57.2% and Pakistan at 52.6%.

The figures indicate that a substantial share of verified customers are using more than one service within the platform. These services include trading, Simple Earn, payments, Binance Square and Binance Academy.

Qafila 2026 fits into that strategy by encouraging participation across several products through a single regional campaign. The company is using rewards and community engagement to introduce eligible users to services beyond their existing activities.

Qafila 2026 reflects MENA’s expanding stablecoin activity

Binance Research data cited by the company points to growing regional participation in stablecoin savings and trading. MENA’s share of global stablecoin balances held through Binance Earn increased from 5.53% to 9.21%, according to the report.

The region’s share of global stablecoin trading volume on Binance also rose from 7% in 2023 to 11% in 2026. Binance identified MENA as its fastest-growing region by share of stablecoin trading volume over that period, while the UAE accounted for the largest stablecoin holdings within the region.

The company also reported that 77% of its global users were based in emerging markets, compared with 49% in 2020. Separately, Binance Research found that Gen Z represented 44% of Binance Direct Stocks and bStocks users, while its share of new traditional finance users increased from 41% in January to 47% in July 2026.

Binance positions Qafila 2026 within its All Finance strategy

Binance says the campaign supports its vision of “All Finance on Binance,” an approach that seeks to bring digital assets, traditional financial markets and everyday financial tools into one ecosystem.

“MENA and Pakistan are priority markets for Binance, where growing digital adoption is changing what users expect from financial services,” said Tarik Erk, head of MENAT and senior executive officer at Binance.

“Our focus is to evolve alongside our community, bringing greater choice, practical utility and education into one ecosystem through our vision of All Finance on Binance,” Erk added. “Qafila celebrates that community and the different ambitions driving its financial journey.”

The name Qafila comes from the concept of a caravan, an image associated with people travelling together while pursuing individual destinations. Binance is using the idea to frame the campaign as a shared regional experience connecting customers through participation, discovery and rewards.