What if finance could do more than just move money? What if it could move lives? Across Europe, a new wave of leaders is challenging the norms of banking and payments, blending innovation with ethics, and creating solutions that resonate beyond the balance sheet. Their work isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust, transparency, and a vision for a more inclusive financial future.
At the forefront of this movement is Younes EL ADLY, Co-founder of Laymoon. With a rare combination of engineering precision, spiritual insight, and entrepreneurial drive, Younes has guided Laymoon to the crossroads of technology, faith, and financial empowerment. Through Sharia-compliant payment solutions, accessible digital banking tools, and value-driven services, he is bridging the gap between conventional finance and timeless ethical principles. His leadership reflects resilience, integrity, and a commitment to creating meaningful impact in the lives of people and communities alike.
Faith and Finance: The Genesis of Laymoon
Laymoon’s inception was not a sudden idea but the result of lived experiences, personal conviction, and the merging of professional and spiritual insights. It arose from a deep awareness of the gap between modern finance and timeless ethical principles.
The vision took shape through the journey of a French-Moroccan engineer, Imam, and father of three. Younes’s work in nuclear project management honed his precision and problem-solving mindset, while his faith revealed the incompatibility between conventional European banking and Islamic ethics, especially the prohibition of Riba (interest). This was not a theoretical concern but a daily struggle for families seeking ethical financial choices.
Driven to find a solution, he dedicated a sabbatical year to Quranic studies and later earned an Executive Master’s in Islamic Finance from Paris Dauphine University. This fusion of analytical rigor and ethical finance formed the foundation of Laymoon, a fintech designed to be both technologically advanced and spiritually aligned.
In 2021, Younes co-founded Laymoon with his brother, Anas, sharing a mission shaped by their identity as “Marocains du Monde.” Building on their earlier venture, ASUTECH, which bridged Europe and Morocco, Laymoon extended that vision into finance, connecting modern innovation with moral integrity.
Despite early challenges in a competitive market, both remained committed to their purpose: offering their community a sense of financial dignity through a system rooted in values, trust, and faith.
A Financial Vision Born of Conviction
Younes El ADLY envisions a future where every individual in Europe can access financial tools that are both technologically advanced and fully aligned with their ethical and spiritual principles. His leadership is focused on creating a financial ecosystem that is equitable, transparent, and participatory, allowing individuals to manage their finances without compromising their core values. Under his guidance, finance becomes a means to empower, rather than constrain, personal beliefs and integrity.
Participatory Payment Solution
In Europe’s competitive fintech arena, Younes El ADLY distinguishes Laymoon through a vision anchored in faith, transparency, and community. These three pillars form the foundation of the company’s identity and guide every strategic decision.
At its core lies an unwavering commitment to Sharia compliance. Younes El ADLY ensures that every product adheres to Islamic finance principles, supported by the oversight of Dr. Mohamed Talal Lahlou, an independent Sharia Supervisory Officer. Conventional banking structures have been carefully deconstructed to eliminate all forms of Riba (interest), overdraft fees, and the use of customer funds in interest-bearing investments. This ethical rigor reflects leadership rooted in accountability and trust.
The second pillar, radical transparency, challenges the opacity of traditional banking. Under Younes El ADLY’s guidance, Laymoon operates on a simple, flat monthly subscription model, ensuring revenue is earned ethically and directly tied to customer satisfaction. This approach redefines the customer-bank relationship as one of partnership rather than exploitation.
The final pillar embodies a participatory, community-driven ethos. Laymoon is built with its community, not just for it. Younes El ADLY’s inclusive approach creates authentic connections and ensures that innovation reflects the real needs of users.
Through these principles, Younes El ADLY has established a model of integrity-driven finance proving that ethical banking is not only possible but transformative.
Digital Empowerment through Faith-Based Finance
Younes EL ADLY is redefining accessibility in Islamic finance by democratizing Sharia-compliant solutions for the digital era. Through Laymoon, he has created a fully digital, intuitive, and inclusive financial ecosystem designed to serve users with transparency and trust. Unlike traditional banks, Laymoon operates as a licensed payment service agent, a strategic distinction that offers greater agility, innovation, and focus on customer experience.
The platform provides essential financial tools such as dedicated IBAN accounts, globally accepted Mastercard debit cards, and interest-free savings options, enabling individuals to manage their finances confidently and in accordance with their faith. Every product reflects Younes EL ADLY’s vision of aligning cutting-edge technology with enduring ethical values, delivering not just financial convenience but genuine empowerment and peace of mind.
Leadership Amid Complexity
Scaling a fintech in a highly regulated, cross-border environment while upholding ethical standards presents unique challenges. Laymoon’s leadership has confronted three key hurdles.
First, navigating Europe’s fragmented regulatory landscape alongside Sharia compliance requires managing overlapping frameworks. Leadership addressed this by investing in top-tier legal expertise and appointing an independent Sharia Supervisory Officer, ensuring robust compliance that satisfies regulators and ethical expectations.
Second, building trust in a market dominated by established banks and well-funded fintechs is critical. Laymoon’s leadership prioritized radical transparency, adopting a simple subscription model and openly communicating principles and compliance structures. Institutional backing from 212 Founders further reinforced credibility.
Finally, educating the market on ethical finance remains essential. Leadership has positioned Laymoon as a thought leader, leveraging content and community engagement to raise financial literacy and empower consumers to make conscious financial choices.
Sustainable Integrity in Action
Younes El ADLY has made sustainability and quality central to Laymoon’s operations. Every partnership, from technology providers to payment processors, is carefully vetted to align with the company’s ethical standards, ensuring integrity and reliable service.
His design of Laymoon’s business model reinforces long-term stability. By following Islamic finance principles that prioritize risk-sharing and asset-backed operations, and adopting a subscription-based revenue model, he has built a framework for responsible growth.
Beyond operational sustainability, Younes El ADLY emphasizes social impact. By offering accessible, ethical financial services, he empowers underserved communities while demonstrating that growth, quality, and ethical responsibility can thrive together.
The Shift towards Ethical and Conscious Finance
Under the leadership of Younes El ADLY, Laymoon recognizes the profound transformation in consumer behavior marked by the rise of the conscious consumer. Modern individuals no longer prioritize price or convenience alone; they increasingly seek alignment between their financial choices and the ethical, social, and environmental impact of the organizations they engage with. This evolution reflects a convergence of financial decisions, ethical principles, sustainability, and faith.
Younes El ADLY has guided Laymoon to not merely adapt but to embody this new paradigm. The organization leverages the principles of Islamic finance, including the prohibition of speculation, emphasis on asset-backed economic activity, and commitment to social justice and shared prosperity, which align naturally with the global Environmental, Social, and Governance movement.
Initially focused on serving the Muslim community with Sharia-compliant services, Laymoon now resonates with a wider demographic of value-driven consumers seeking transparency, principled practices, and a stable, equitable financial ecosystem. By translating its core offerings into universally appreciated ethical and sustainable benefits, Laymoon demonstrates that its services provide value beyond faith-based compliance. Under Younes El ADLY’s leadership, the organization stands at the forefront of both faith-driven finance and conscious capitalism, poised to lead in shaping an ethically responsible financial landscape.
Technology Guided by Purpose
Under the leadership of Younes El ADLY, technology at Laymoon is designed not merely for operational efficiency but to enhance the holistic experience of its users. Every technological choice reflects his vision of aligning financial empowerment with ethical and spiritual values.
Younes has prioritized building a high-performance, intuitive digital platform that anticipates and addresses the nuanced needs of the community. Notable innovations include the integration of a Sharia-compliant Zakat calculator, which simplifies a complex religious obligation, and a seamless travel solution for Umrah and Hajj, encompassing eVisa processing, digital SIM activation, and cashless transactions, all executed within the secure Laymoon ecosystem.
His leadership ensures that technology is not a standalone feature but a tool to cultivate trust, convenience, and confidence. By combining user-centric design, biometric security, instant transfers, and transparent processes, he has positioned Laymoon as a fintech that delivers tangible value while upholding the highest ethical standards. Technology, in this context, becomes an extension of his commitment to serving the community with precision, integrity, and foresight.
Anchored in Purpose, Precision, and Partnership
Younes El ADLY’s leadership is shaped by his experiences as an engineer, Imam, and entrepreneur, built on the principles of purpose, precision, and partnership that define Laymoon’s culture.
At the heart of his approach is servant leadership, inspired by his role as an Imam and the Islamic concept of Baraka, a divine infusion of productivity and goodness cultivated through integrity and service. He ensures the team connects deeply with Laymoon’s mission, fostering meaning, creativity, and dedication, and building a culture of trust and shared commitment.
His engineering background reinforces precision and excellence. Every decision is data-driven, rigorously tested, and executed with discipline, reflecting the sacred trust customers place in the company.
He also champions a bridge-building culture, embracing the team’s diversity and Laymoon’s European-Moroccan identity. By valuing every perspective, he empowers all team members to co-create the company’s vision.
Impact through Ethical Leadership
Younes El ADLY views true business impact as the holistic value a company creates, beyond mere financial metrics. For him, it is the positive change brought to customers, employees, and the broader community. Businesses focused solely on profit fall short of their responsibility.
He defines making a difference as solving real human problems while respecting dignity and values. At Laymoon, this means removing barriers to economic participation and enabling individuals to manage finances ethically, instilling confidence, peace of mind, and empowerment.
This philosophy guides all of his ventures. Through La Source Jeune, he addresses essential needs such as clean water, famine relief, and child protection. Kebchi helps families fulfill religious obligations during Eid al-Adha, delivering aid with dignity and transparency. Across initiatives, his goal is to solve problems that diminish well-being and uplift lives.
For him, Laymoon’s success is measured not by valuation or market share but by the lives impacted and the creation of a more inclusive, ethical, and empowering financial system.
Strategic Vision for Ethical Finance Leadership
Younes El ADLY leads with a vision of sustainable growth, community engagement, and continuous innovation, guiding both immediate objectives and long-term ambitions to reshape ethical finance in Europe.
By 2025, his focus is on strengthening the foundation through accelerated user growth in core Francophone markets, enhancing the product with advanced budgeting tools, family account functionalities, and Sharia-compliant savings, and expanding educational initiatives via articles, webinars, workshops, and strategic community partnerships.
Beyond 2025, Younes El ADLY aims to establish the organization as a cornerstone of ethical finance. Plans include geographic expansion into Germany and the United Kingdom, diversification into Sharia-compliant investment and insurance solutions, and positioning the organization as a trusted voice advocating transparency, fairness, and purpose-driven financial services across Europe.
An Open Letter to the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Leaders
Dear Future Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Leaders,
As you begin your journey, full of ambition and ideas, I want to share reflections from my own path—a path that has been challenging but deeply rewarding.
First, find your ‘why’ in your own story. Look not just for gaps in the market, but for gaps in your life, family, or community. The most resilient ventures arise from deeply personal problems that only you can solve. My journey with Laymoon began in search of a financial partner aligned with my faith. Your background, heritage, and struggles are your greatest advantages.
Second, embrace the polymath path. Society encourages specialization, but the future belongs to integrators—those who connect diverse fields to create something new. Being an engineer and an Imam is not a duality but a synergy. Let curiosity guide you across disciplines.
Third, build your enterprise on principle, not preference. Trends shift, but a strong ethical foundation endures. At Laymoon, our anchor is Islamic finance. For you, it might be sustainability, social justice, or transparency. Let your principles guide every decision.
Finally, seek Baraka, not just burn rate. Avoid the glorification of relentless hustle. Focus on intention, integrity, and service. Baraka—the blessing of productivity, goodness, and longevity—sustains both your work and your team.
Entrepreneurship is difficult. There will be doubt and exhaustion. But when your work reflects your deepest convictions, you will find a resilience no challenge can overcome.
I wish you courage, clarity, and success on your journey.
With respect and encouragement,
Younes EL ADLY,
Co-Founder, Laymoon
Pioneering Ethical Finance Through Purpose, Faith, and Innovation
- Values-Driven Leadership: Combines faith, ethics, and entrepreneurship to transform finance.
- Ethical Innovation: Technology empowers users while adhering to Sharia principles.
- Interdisciplinary Vision: Engineering precision and spiritual insight drive scalable impact.
- Transparency & Community: Participatory design builds trust and sustainable growth.
- Strategic Leadership: Expanding ethical finance through education, inclusion, and conscious capitalism.
