Robo.ai Partners with Zand Bank, the Middle East's First Fully Digital Bank, to Pioneer a New Paradigm in Machine Economy Fintech

Rhea-AI Summary

Robo.ai (Nasdaq: AIIO) announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Zand Bank on Nov 21, 2025 to integrate Robo.ai's intelligent hardware ecosystem with Zand Bank's regulated digital financial system. The partnership targets AED stablecoin payments, institution-grade custody for IoT devices, real-world asset tokenization (e.g., smart vehicles, eVTOL, logistics equipment), and on-chain ESG data to support Dubai's 2050 Net Zero goals. The collaboration focuses on automated H2M/M2M settlements, compliant private-key custody, and fractionalization of physical assets for financing and liquidity.

Insights

Fintech Strategic Analyst

MOU links Robo.ai hardware to Zand Bank's AED stablecoin and custody, creating a compliant on‑ramp for machine-driven payments and RWA tokenization.

Robo.ai and Zand Bank committed on Nov. 21, 2025 to integrate an intelligent hardware ecosystem with a regulated digital financial system. The stated commercial scenarios include embedding an AED stablecoin for split‑second Human‑to‑Machine and Machine‑to‑Machine settlements, using institution‑grade custody for private keys and on‑chain KYC/AML, and tokenizing physical assets such as smart vehicles and eVTOLs into fractional on‑chain shares.

The business mechanism is straightforward: add regulated payment rails and custody into IoT terminals to enable automated settlement and assetization of physical items. This reduces technical friction between devices and financial services by pairing device wallets with a bank‑backed stablecoin and custodial wallet, which should help address compliance requirements for on‑chain asset flows.

Key dependencies and risks rest on regulatory and implementation details that are not disclosed here. Success depends on precise custody arrangements, KYC/AML integration, and the ability to operationalize split‑second settlements across devices. The notice includes ESG data financialization tied to Dubai's 2050 net‑zero goal, which implies additional data‑audit and reporting requirements.

Concrete items to watch over the next 6–24 months include operational pilots integrating the AED stablecoin into devices, launch of custody services for terminals, first RWA tokenization transactions, and any regulatory approvals or clearances enabling live settlements. Also monitor mentions of product rollouts referenced here (e.g., the smart car Roboy339 and RoVTOL) as integration testbeds.

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robo.ai (Nasdaq: AIIO), a Nasdaq-listed technology company, today announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zand Bank PJSC ("Zand Bank"), the first fully digital bank in the Middle East. The two parties will integrate Robo.ai's intelligent hardware ecosystem with Zand Bank's regulated digital financial system, focusing on cooperation in AED (Dirham) stablecoin payments, IoT asset custody, and Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization.

This collaboration aims to address payment and compliance pain points within the "Machine Economy." By embedding Zand Bank's financial infrastructure into Robo.ai's hardware terminals, the parties are committed to realizing the following specific commercial scenarios:

• Machine Payment Innovation: Deeply integrating Zand Bank's AED stablecoin into Robo.ai's IoT devices to enable split-second automatic settlement for Human-to-Machine (H2M) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) interactions, significantly enhancing transaction efficiency.
• Digital Asset Secure Custody: Utilizing Zand Bank's institution-grade compliant custody wallets to provide secure private key storage and on-chain identity authentication (KYC/AML) for intelligent terminals, ensuring asset security.
• Real-World Asset Tokenization (RWA): Converting physical assets such as smart vehicles, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), and logistics equipment into standardized on-chain fractional shares. This supports financing, leasing, and collateralization, thereby enhancing asset liquidity.
• ESG Data Financialization: Generating auditable on-chain ESG reports based on traffic and energy consumption data collected by IoT sensors, providing robust technical support for the realization of Dubai's 2050 Net Zero Carbon emissions target.

Michael Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Zand Bank, stated: "As a pioneering force in the digital economy, Zand Bank is dedicated to building the next generation of financial infrastructure for the Machine Economy. Our partnership with Robo.ai will extend the reach of the AED stablecoin into a vast ecosystem of AI‑driven smart devices, enabling seamless, automated transactions between humans and machines. Together, we aim to transform the way intelligent devices interact, transact, and generate economic value — bringing to life the vision of 'Code as Payment, Data as Value'."

Benjamin Zhai, Chief Executive Officer of Robo.ai, stated: "The Machine Economy is the core of next-generation infrastructure. Following the launch of our smart car Roboy339—integrated with a digital wallet and digital ID—at TOKEN2049, and the debut of our electric aircraft brand RoVTOL at this year's Dubai Airshow, our future products will all be equipped with exclusive digital wallet functions. In this context, the partnership with Zand Bank will further accelerate the deep integration of smart devices and intelligent assets, providing stable, compliant, and highly scalable infrastructure for automated settlement, asset tokenization, and IoT data financialization. Simultaneously, Zand Bank's institution-grade custodial services and AED stablecoin will serve as a critical compliance bridge for us to unlock core international markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia."

About Zand

Licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE and rated BBB+ investment grade by Fitch Ratings, Zand is an AI-powered bank founded to support the digital economy and bridge the gap between Traditional Finance (TradFi) and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Our mission is to revolutionize the world of finance by leveraging AI, Blockchain Technology, and client-centric solutions to empower corporate, institutional, fintech, and wealth clients to thrive in the evolving digital economy. Our purpose is to empower innovators, ambitious leaders, and bold pioneers to shape the future of finance and unlock new opportunities for success. Zand combines the speed and flexibility of a fintech, with the security and strength of a fully licensed bank. Zand, the AI-powered bank for the digital economy. For more information, please visit www.zand.ae.

About Robo.ai Inc.

Robo.ai Inc. (Nasdaq: AIIO) is a technology company focused on building a global AI robotics network platform. Its mission is to integrate intelligent terminals, develop a unified AI operating system, and establish a smart contract-enabled ecosystem to drive the intelligent era. Robo.ai aims to transform into a decentralized AI asset platform, connecting all AI terminals and enabling the next wave of asset tokenization and the Internet of Things.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes may differ materially from expectations — please refer to the company's SEC filings for details.

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SOURCE Robo.ai Inc.

FAQ

What did Robo.ai (AIIO) announce with Zand Bank on November 21, 2025?

Robo.ai signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate its IoT hardware with Zand Bank's digital financial system for AED stablecoin payments, custody, RWA tokenization, and on-chain ESG data.

How will the Robo.ai and Zand Bank deal enable AED stablecoin payments for AIIO devices?

The parties plan to embed Zand Bank's AED stablecoin into Robo.ai terminals to enable split-second automated H2M and M2M settlements.

What custody solution does Zand Bank provide for Robo.ai (AIIO) devices?

Zand Bank will offer institution-grade compliant custody wallets for private-key storage and on-chain identity authentication (KYC/AML) for intelligent terminals.

What types of physical assets will Robo.ai (AIIO) tokenize under the MOU?

The MOU mentions tokenization of smart vehicles, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), and logistics equipment into fractional on-chain shares.

Will Robo.ai (AIIO) use on-chain ESG data as part of the partnership?

Yes; the collaboration includes generating auditable on-chain ESG reports from IoT traffic and energy data to support Dubai's 2050 Net Zero target.

Is the Robo.ai and Zand Bank agreement binding and are financial terms disclosed?

The announcement is a Memorandum of Understanding dated November 21, 2025, and it does not disclose binding financial terms or transaction values.