November 19, 2023 @ 2:43 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Jordan Ahli Bank, a Jordanian financial institution with over six decades of banking experience, has announced its full compliance with the country’s Open Banking and Open Finance regulations. The bank said it has partnered with Open Banking and financial innovation firm Fintech Galaxy to boost… Read More

November 19, 2023 @ 2:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Ant International, Grab, and StraitsX have announced a collaborative effort to explore the potential application of Purpose Bound Money (PBM) in cross-border payments. PBM is a protocol that specifies the conditions upon which an underlying digital currency can be used and first introduced by MAS… Read More

November 18, 2023 @ 5:52 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) have jointly introduced a real-time payment systems linkage connecting Singapore’s PayNow and Malaysia’s DuitNow. This initiative builds upon the earlier QR payment linkage announced on March 31, 2023, facilitating cross-border QR payments to merchants…. Read More

November 18, 2023 @ 5:46 pm By Michael Wong  |  

BC Technology Group, the digital asset and fintech-focused parent of digital asset platform OSL, has announced raising approximately HK$710 million from crypto group BGX. The deal, which still requires the approval of BC Group’s shareholders, will give BGX a 30% stake in the company. OSL… Read More

November 18, 2023 @ 12:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Silverflow, a could-based payments processing startup, announced raising €15 million ($16.4 million) in a funding round anchored by industry veterans and payments experts at Global Paytech Ventures. The round was also backed by Picus Capital, Coatue, Crane Venture Partners, Inkef, and several angel investors, with… Read More

November 18, 2023 @ 12:35 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Binance Labs, the venture capital and incubation arm of Binance, has backed the $5-million Seed funding round of Web3 social network platform Sleek, according to an announcement. The funding round, which also saw participation from notable investors, including Shima Capital, Spartan Group, Symbolic Capital, Market… Read More

November 18, 2023 @ 12:08 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech lending is expected to surpass traditional banking by 2030, according to a recent report by the Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL). The forecast by CAFRAL, an independent body established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2011, underscores the profound… Read More

November 12, 2023 @ 9:33 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Several European crowdfunding platforms are joining forces to create what they call an alternative finance “super-platform” in response to the latest European crowdfunding regulations. Kapitaal op Maat (KoM), Max Crowdfund (MCF), and Capital Circle (CaCi) have announced plans to merge, creating a larger platform with… Read More

November 12, 2023 @ 7:42 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Arab Financial Services (AFS), a digital payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, recently hosted a high-level economic delegation from Brussels and discussed potential partnerships within the fintech and financial services sector, highlighting a significant move towards international collaboration in this rapidly evolving… Read More

November 12, 2023 @ 5:28 pm By Michael Wong  |  

A landmark agreement has been reached between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), and the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM), promising to revolutionize fintech cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The “Memorandum of Understanding on Deepening… Read More

November 11, 2023 @ 5:40 pm By Michael Wong  |  

BonEvalue Pte Ltd (BondbloX), a Singapore-based fintech startup that provides easy access to bonds for investors, has secured $6 million in a Series B round. The funding round was backed by Beacon Venture Capital, the corporate venture arm of Thailand’s Kasikornbank. Existing shareholders MassMutual Ventures… Read More

November 11, 2023 @ 8:49 am By Michael Wong  |  

SEBA Bank, a digital assets bank regulated in Switzerland, has announced that its subsidiary has been granted a license by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong. The development marks the first regulated foray of the SEBA Group into the Asia Pacific market,… Read More

November 11, 2023 @ 8:40 am By Michael Wong  |  

Forty-eight countries and jurisdictions have pledged to adopt the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development‘s (OECD) framework for tax transparency and information exchange regarding crypto assets by 2027. This commitment marks a significant stride in international efforts to address tax evasion in the rapidly evolving… Read More

November 5, 2023 @ 10:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) now allows crowdfunding platforms to register as official gatekeepers of qualified institutional and individual investors, a move that forms part of the government’s efforts to bolster the capital market. This development stems from the SEC’s latest issuance, Memorandum… Read More

November 5, 2023 @ 8:22 pm By Michael Wong  |  

A recent study conducted by the United Overseas Bank (OUB) suggests that Vietnamese consumers are increasingly turning to digital banking and modern payment methods, with convenience and speed as among the major factors cited for the preference. The report, “ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study”, indicates a significant… Read More

November 5, 2023 @ 7:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

Digital asset XRP has been granted approval by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for utilization within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), marking a significant endorsement for cryptocurrency usage in financial services in Dubai, according to Ripple. As the first virtual asset sanctioned by… Read More

November 4, 2023 @ 2:46 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong and Thailand aims to revolutionize the way travelers handle currency exchange with the launch of interoperable digital payment systems. From December 4, residents from both regions will be able to make transactions using their local digital payment platforms, thanks to a landmark agreement… Read More

November 4, 2023 @ 10:45 am By Michael Wong  |  

Global assets in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the spot price of Bitcoin have reached a staggering $4.16 billion, according to the latest data from CoinGecko. This growing interest highlights the increasing mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin as an investment asset. Canadian investors have taken a particular… Read More

November 3, 2023 @ 10:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

TAS, an Italian banking and financial services software provider, has announced the appointment of Fabio Benasso, a long-standing Accenture executive, as its new group president. The decision came following a recent meeting of the Board of Directors, marking a new chapter in the company’s pursuit… Read More

November 3, 2023 @ 9:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Dubai Integrated Economic Zone (DIEZ) has announced the official launch of Oraseya Capital, a venture capital fund that will invest in financial technology (fintech) startups in the gulf nation. This strategic initiative, announced during the Dubai Business Forum, aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda… Read More