July 28, 2025 @ 3:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free are taking steps to integrate cryptocurrency into their payment systems through separate partnerships with digital asset platform Crypto.com, as part of Dubai’s broader ambition to position itself as a global digital finance hub. Emirates plans to accept cryptocurrency payments… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 11:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised down its growth forecasts for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific for both 2025 and 2026, citing weaker external demand, global trade uncertainty, and subdued domestic consumption. According to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2025 report… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 11:24 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based Fintech firms Green Link Digital Bank (GLDB) and 129Knots have launched a global embedded finance initiative targeting liquidity gaps in the marine fuel sector, aiming to bring structured financing to an industry traditionally underserved by conventional credit providers. The partnership will leverage 129Knots’ Origination-to-Distribution… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 10:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based robotics software firm Augmentus has secured $11 million in a Series A+ funding round to scale deployment of its no-code, AI-driven robotic systems for industrial automation. The round was led by Woori Venture Partners, with participation from Singapore government-backed EDBI. Existing investors Sierra Ventures… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 10:25 am By Michael Wong  |  

Spear AI, a Washington, DC-based company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions for the maritime sector, has closed a seed funding round backed by Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures. The amount raised was not disclosed. Founded in 2021, the company develops a suite of… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 10:21 am By Michael Wong  |  

Trovata, a San Diego, CA-based provider of a multibank data platform, has acquired ATOM, an enterprise Treasury Management System developed by Financial Sciences Corporation. The acquisition positions Trovata as a new competitor to traditional treasury software vendors by integrating advanced treasury features into its cloud-native… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 9:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Roughly 14% of US adults report owning cryptocurrency, while most say they have no interest in buying it, according to a new Gallup survey conducted from June 2 to 15. Despite modest growth in ownership since 2021, a majority of Americans continue to view digital… Read More

July 26, 2025 @ 11:58 am By Michael Wong  |  

China has placed Alipay, Tenpay, and NetsUnion Clearing Corporation under the direct anti-money laundering supervision of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), according to a report by Yicai. The move expands the central bank’s regulatory scope to include major non-bank payment platforms as part of… Read More

July 22, 2025 @ 11:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Sun Life Hong Kong said on Friday it will invest up to $70 million in Bowtie Life Insurance, Hong Kong’s first virtual insurer, to accelerate its growth and strengthen its position in medical insurance and preventive healthcare. The fresh capital injection reinforces Sun Life’s long-standing… Read More

July 22, 2025 @ 9:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) plans to introduce stand-in capabilities for NETS electronic point-of-sales systems to enhance the resilience of digital financial services. MAS is also working with financial institutions to develop similar solutions for QR code payments, which have gained traction among consumers…. Read More

July 21, 2025 @ 10:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Around 60% of sovereign wealth funds based in the Middle East intend to increase their allocations to Chinese assets over the next five years, according to the latest global sovereign asset management study conducted by Invesco. The remaining 40% of respondents from the region plan… Read More

July 20, 2025 @ 4:31 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Kuwait’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has launched the country’s first securities-based crowdfunding platform, a move aimed at expanding capital market participation and introducing new financial technologies. The CMA said in a statement that Al-Mawazi Capital is the first entity to be registered under its securities-based… Read More

July 20, 2025 @ 4:12 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Riverside Company, a US-based global investment firm focused on lower middle market investments, has announced the final close of its Riverside Value Fund II (RVF II), reaching its hard cap of $750 million. The fund was significantly oversubscribed and closed at more than twice… Read More

July 19, 2025 @ 5:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based digital content monetization platform Coda has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Amsterdam-headquartered prepaid payments firm Recharge, according to an announcement. The transaction brings together two regional leaders as part of a plan to expand global reach across business-to-business and business-to-consumer segments. The combined… Read More

July 19, 2025 @ 11:15 am By Michael Wong  |  

Gordian Capital, Asia’s oldest and largest institutional fund platform with $17 billion in assets under management, plans to expand into Dubai, subject to regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The Singapore-based firm intends to offer fund platform services in the Dubai International Financial… Read More

July 19, 2025 @ 1:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Italian defence and aerospace group Leonardo said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy Sweden-based cybersecurity firm Axiomatics AB, bolstering its “zero trust” product line as Europe races to secure critical networks. The acquisition adds a key capability to Leonardo’s Global Cybersecurity Platform by enhancing… Read More

July 18, 2025 @ 8:17 am By Michael Wong  |  

Princeton Digital Group (PDG), a major Asia Pacific data center operator headquartered in Singapore, said it had signed a definitive agreement for a $1.3 billion preferred equity investment from alternative investment firm Stonepeak to support its regional expansion plans. The investment follows PDG’s $1.2 billion… Read More

July 14, 2025 @ 11:16 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has issued a public warning after receiving multiple enquiries about fraudulent documents falsely claiming to be issued by the city’s banking regulator. The incident underscores growing concerns over financial scams targeting investors by impersonating official agencies. In a statement,… Read More

July 14, 2025 @ 5:31 am By Michael Wong  |  

BDx Data Centers, a China-based carrier-neutral operator, has partnered with Singapore’s Anyon Technologies to install Southeast Asia’s first hybrid quantum artificial-intelligence testbed at BDx’s SIN1 facility in Paya Lebar, Singapore, according to an announcement. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to formalise the collaboration,… Read More

July 13, 2025 @ 10:16 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong is targeting new banking rules aimed at aligning its regulatory framework with international standards on cryptoasset exposures, as part of efforts to manage financial risks while supporting innovation in the banking sector. The Banking (Capital) (Amendment) Rules 2025, the Banking (Disclosure) (Amendment) Rules 2025… Read More