July 5, 2026 @ 2:42 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and China’s securities regulator have signed a staff exchange agreement to deepen regulatory cooperation as the two authorities expand collaboration on capital markets, digital assets, and cross-border investment initiatives. The agreement was signed during the 10th annual supervisory roundtable… Read More

July 5, 2026 @ 12:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Golomt Bank have signed a $64 million loan agreement to expand sustainable finance and increase lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including women-owned businesses, in Mongolia. The financing package comprises $60 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources… Read More

June 28, 2026 @ 6:46 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain underprotected against cyberattacks, with only 16.8% of global SMEs reporting standalone cyber insurance despite more than a third experiencing a cyber incident in the past three years, according to GlobalData. The data and analytics firm said 34.7% of SMEs… Read More

June 28, 2026 @ 2:53 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Lion Group Holding Ltd. is investing up to $12 million in an Indonesian financial technology company developing a rupiah-backed stablecoin, expanding the Nasdaq-listed firm’s digital asset strategy as Southeast Asia’s largest economy moves toward regulated blockchain-based payments. The investment in PT Nusantara Bumi Sangkara will… Read More

June 28, 2026 @ 1:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Philippine private equity firm Navegar has secured a $15 million commitment from Sweden’s development finance institution Swedfund for its third private equity fund, adding fresh capital to back mid-sized companies as investors continue to see opportunities in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies. The investment… Read More

June 28, 2026 @ 10:07 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, is moving to make digital transaction fees fairer and more transparent by requiring banks, e-wallet operators and other payment service providers to justify how they price electronic payment services. Under Circular No. 1238,… Read More

June 27, 2026 @ 4:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Private equity and venture capital firms across Asia-Pacific are finding it increasingly difficult to raise new funds as institutional investors become more selective, with fundraising overtaking exits as the industry’s biggest challenge, according to a new survey. The survey, released by DealStreetAsia and Vistra Fund… Read More

June 27, 2026 @ 12:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Airwallex’s jump in valuation to $11 billion was driven by both growth in its core payments business and investor confidence in its artificial intelligence strategy, Arnold Chan, the company’s general manager for Asia-Pacific, told Crowdfund Insider. The global payments and financial platform raised $320 million… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 4:55 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, has increased the maximum repayment period for salary-based consumer loans to seven years, a move aimed at making credit more affordable for borrowers while reinforcing responsible lending standards among banks and other regulated… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 2:02 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong companies are investing an average of $214 million in AI, about 17% above the global average, as financial institutions and multinational corporations step up spending on the technology, a DLA Piper spokesperson told Crowdfund Insider. The average AI investment in Hong Kong stands… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 12:01 am By Michael Wong  |  

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering providing up to $86 million in long-term financing to Vietnam’s Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank) to expand lending to small businesses, women entrepreneurs and affordable housing, according to documents seen by Crowdfund Insider. The proposed five-year… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 6:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit is offering eligible users access to tokenized bond funds managed by PIMCO and China Merchants Bank International (CMBI), the latest sign of how digital asset platforms are using blockchain infrastructure to bring traditional fixed-income investments to crypto-native investors. The launch comes as… Read More

June 20, 2026 @ 1:16 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong’s central bank, said it is comimtted to advancing innovation that enhances efficiency and resilience. In a statement, HKMA deputy chief executive Howard Lee reaffirmed the commitment as Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure evolves to meet the growing demands… Read More

June 20, 2026 @ 11:35 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) will launch its Gold Spot T+0 Contract on June 22, introducing the first same-day physically settled spot gold product on a regulated exchange in the GCC and strengthening Dubai’s gold market infrastructure. The contract has been developed to… Read More

June 17, 2026 @ 5:27 am By Michael Wong  |  

Moroccan proptech startup Agenz has raised $5 million in funding from Breega, Attijariwafa Ventures and Saviu Ventures, as it seeks to expand its real estate data and transaction platform. Founded in 2021 by brothers Malik and Badr Belkeziz, Agenz provides valuation tools, market data, digital… Read More

June 17, 2026 @ 1:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC) has raised about HK$12 billion ($1.5 billion) through its inaugural digital bond issuance, marking the world’s largest digital bond sale to date and another step in Hong Kong’s efforts to establish itself as a global hub for tokenised finance…. Read More

June 16, 2026 @ 6:48 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is stepping up efforts to promote tokenization among corporate treasury centers, as the financial hub seeks to strengthen its position in digital finance and expand the use of blockchain-based transactions. The central bank this week hosted a seminar on “Corporate… Read More

June 15, 2026 @ 2:07 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong will continue expanding its digital asset regulatory framework and support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services as it seeks to strengthen its position as an international financial centre, the chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission said. Speaking at the… Read More

June 14, 2026 @ 5:58 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will implement a revised framework for single family offices on June 15, introducing a streamlined exemption process while strengthening regulatory oversight of the sector. Under the revised framework, qualifying single family offices operating in Singapore will be eligible for… Read More

June 14, 2026 @ 12:56 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against several online lending platforms accused of illegally using the names and regulatory credentials of legitimate financing and lending companies to solicit borrowers. In recent advisories, the SEC flagged Perasayo.com for allegedly using the… Read More