A fatwa from Amanie Advisors has deemed validator rewards Sharia-compliant, addressing a major hurdle to institutional involvement in blockchain staking
Dubai, UAE, Dec. 11, 2025 — ZIGChain, a Layer-1 blockchain designed specifically for compliant wealth creation, today revealed it has received Shariah certification for its Proof of Stake consensus mechanism from Amanie Advisors. This certification could open the door to the Islamic finance sector, which held $5.98 trillion in assets in 2024 and is forecast to reach $9.7 trillion by 2029, according to the . This vast market has largely been untouched by blockchain staking infrastructure.
The certification tackles a longstanding, fundamental obstacle to blockchain adoption: how staking rewards are categorized under Islamic law. Traditional Proof of Stake systems have faced scrutiny from Shariah scholars due to their structural resemblances to interest-based arrangements.
Amanie Advisors, which previously certified Binance Earn products, concluded that ZIGChain’s validator mechanism operates under a Wakala bil Istithmar structure—an investment agency model—where validators contribute genuine economic value through block validation rather than generating passive interest.
“The certification assesses the actual economic role of validators within the network,” stated Abdul Rafay Gadit, ZIGChain co-founder. “For institutional entities governed by Shariah, distinguishing between earning through productive work and earning interest is critical.”
“This certification marks a significant advancement for Islamic institutional investors,” said Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar, Chairman of Amanie Advisors. “By confirming that validators engage in real economic activity through computational work and risk-taking—rather than merely lending capital—we’ve resolved a key uncertainty that has kept Islamic institutions on the fringes of blockchain staking.”
Technical Implications
The certification specifically covers ZIGChain’s staking infrastructure, establishing the following:
- Validators act as investment agents performing computational tasks
- Reward distribution follows profit-sharing models rather than fixed-return structures
- The governance framework aligns with Islamic partnership principles
Amanie Advisors conducted a multi-month review of the platform’s validator economics, reward mechanisms, and governance structures.
Industry Precedent
While individual Islamic finance transactions have been tokenized on various blockchains, this certification specifically classifies ZIGChain’s validator mechanism as operating under the Wakala bil Istithmar structure (an Islamic investment agency model), representing a breakthrough in aligning Proof of Stake with Islamic investment principles. This distinction is vital for institutional allocation, as it confirms that PoS staking—at the blockchain level—is Halal, regardless of whether institutions stake directly, through validators, or via intermediary service providers. This ethical classification addresses the core concerns of Islamic institutional investors regarding value creation, risk structure, and reward justification in staking models.
By validating the underlying consensus mechanism rather than a single token, product, or isolated transaction, the certification sets a new standard for how Proof of Stake networks can operate within Shariah frameworks. It demonstrates that consensus-level staking mechanics can adhere to Islamic ethical and commercial principles, creating a replicable path for other blockchain networks seeking alignment with Islamic investment mandates and confident access to Islamic institutional capital.
The Shariah certification follows a series of strategic institutional partnerships by ZIGChain, including a $30 million $ZIG allocation from BTCS S.A., a publicly listed company in Poland, which has also announced plans to operate a validator on ZIGChain, and a $300 million digital treasury strategy and tokenization initiative in collaboration with SEGG Media Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed company. The platform’s broader ecosystem includes Zamanat (focused on Shariah-aligned asset tokenization), Nawa Finance (for institutional-grade Sharia-compliant yield products), and Valdora Finance (a protocol enabling liquid staking).
About ZIGChain
ZIGChain is a modular blockchain network built for scalable and secure decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. It serves as a foundation for institutions, fintechs, and on-chain platforms to issue, manage, and scale asset-backed products with transparency. The network supports regulated tokenization modules, real-world asset frameworks, and yield-generation protocols such as Nawa Finance. Website:
About Amanie Advisors
Amanie Advisors is a leading global Islamic finance consultancy specializing in Shariah advisory, governance, and product structuring. With a network of renowned scholars and experts, the firm assists financial institutions, governments, and corporates worldwide in developing compliant, innovative, and sustainable solutions aligned with international standards.
CONTACT: Tobith Tom tobith@lunapr.io
