February 16, 2025 @ 6:27 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Cambodia’s Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has called for intensified efforts to suppress illegal online lending, urging citizens to stop repaying loans from unlicensed lenders and report such activities to authorities. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Interior Ministry’s annual review meeting, Sokha reiterated… Read More

February 16, 2025 @ 6:17 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Derayah Financial Company has priced its initial public offering (IPO) at 30 riyals ($8) per share, the upper end of its indicated range, following strong demand from institutional investors. The Saudi-based independent digital investment platform attracted 243 billion riyals ($64.79 billion) in total orders during… Read More

February 16, 2025 @ 6:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Financial technology firms are emerging as alternative lenders for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including those in agriculture, amid banks’ continued hesitancy to extend loans to the sector. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board member Romeo Bernardo said fintech firms are playing an… Read More

February 12, 2025 @ 9:58 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group set out new priorities to bolster sustainable finance in Hong Kong, focusing on sustainability disclosures, transition finance, and green fintech development, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said. The Steering Group, jointly led by the HKMA and… Read More

February 12, 2025 @ 8:44 am By Michael Wong  |  

Litas.io, a blockchain-based payment and crowdfunding platform, has secured a $20 million investment commitment to enhance its technology and expand its business, the company said. Litas is based in Vilnius. The company states that it “simplifies access to digital finance for SMEs but also integrates… Read More

February 9, 2025 @ 11:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Tuma Ventures Limited, a UK-based payments company regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has received approval from the Bank of Tanzania to operate as a licensed Payment System Provider (PSP). With the PSP licence, Tuma Ventures will offer a range of financial services in… Read More

February 9, 2025 @ 12:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

According to recent research by UnaFinancial, the total volume of Asian Fintech transactions reached $16.8 trillion in 2024, marking an increase of $2.1 trillion from the previous year. The report noted that Asia accounted for 48.2% of the global fintech volume, which totaled $34.8 trillion… Read More

February 8, 2025 @ 9:53 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) has unveiled SpaceCrowd, Bulgaria’s first equity crowdfunding platform aimed at helping startups and early-stage businesses raise capital, BSE CEO Manyu Moravenov said. Developed in collaboration with the Central Depository, SpaceCrowd provides a new funding avenue for young companies with growth… Read More

February 3, 2025 @ 9:07 pm By Michael Wong  |  

TXSE Group Inc announced that its subsidiary, the Texas Stock Exchange LLC (TXSE), has filed a Form 1 registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to operate as a national securities exchange. This filing, one of the few submitted by a fully integrated exchange… Read More

February 3, 2025 @ 4:12 pm By Michael Wong  |  

TeamSec, a company that claims to be the world’s first AI-powered securitization platform, has raised $7.6 million through a joint investment led by Deniz Ventures, the venture capital arm of DenizBank, and Doha-based Rasmal Ventures. The funding round, executed under the Emirates NBD Innovation Fund—the… Read More

February 3, 2025 @ 8:56 am By Michael Wong  |  

Crowdfunding is emerging as a viable capital-raising tool for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines, generating over P2 billion (about $34 million) in fresh funds for small businesses, industry sources said. The growth comes as 361 companies have tapped licensed crowdfunding intermediaries… Read More

February 2, 2025 @ 5:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

InfiniVAN Inc., a telecommunications arm of IPS, Inc., has joined forces with Maybank Philippines Inc. in a bid to upgrade the bank’s financial services and enhance its security framework through advanced internet solutions. The collaboration follows the successful completion of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable… Read More

February 2, 2025 @ 5:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Egypt-based fintech Halan Microfinance Bank has expanded its footprint into Pakistan following its acquisition of Advance Microfinance Bank. The deal provides Halan with an existing license and a rapid route into one of South Asia’s fastest-growing microfinance sectors, according to an announcement. The company announced… Read More

January 26, 2025 @ 10:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Jordan’s Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved plans to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for virtual or digital assets within one year, according to reports. The move is aimed at aligning with global standards, bolstering the country’s digital economy, and safeguarding investors in… Read More

January 26, 2025 @ 8:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Furaha, a purpose-driven lending platform aimed at boosting financial access across sub-Saharan Africa, has raised $10 million through a joint investment by SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s innovation and fintech investment arm, and Yabx Technologies (Netherlands) B.V. SC Ventures contributed $7 million, while Yabx, part of… Read More

January 26, 2025 @ 8:04 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia-listed digital services firm MY E.G. Services Berhad (MYEG) announced a strategic collaboration with MyDigital ID Solutions Sdn Bhd (MYIDSSB) to develop a blockchain-powered national digital identity platform, the MyDigital ID Superapp, aimed at combating online fraud and enhancing digital integration. The partnership, formalized through… Read More

January 26, 2025 @ 6:54 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pluto, the United Arab Emirates’ corporate card and expense management platform, announced that it has secured $4.1 million in a pre-Series A funding round. The development comes shortly after Pluto’s co-founder Mohammed Ridwan revealed that the platform surpassed AED1 billion in cumulative spend under management,… Read More

January 25, 2025 @ 5:26 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Workera, an AI-powered skills intelligence platform, has received a strategic investment from professional services company Accenture as part of a broader alliance aimed at accelerating the adoption of skills-first strategies. The collaboration encompasses multiple areas: a financial commitment from Accenture, a reseller agreement to distribute… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 7:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global investment firm KKR has enlisted Goldman Sachs to facilitate the sale of its significant minority stake in Philippine fintech company Maya, according to a Reuters report that cited two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. KKR, which owns more than 20% of Maya,… Read More

January 21, 2025 @ 9:11 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Skor Technologies, the Indonesian parent company of credit-education platform Skorlife and the Skorcard digital-first credit card, has raised $6.2 million in a pre Series-A funding round led by Southeast Asia-focused Argor Capital. The round also saw participation from existing backers QED Investors and Saison Capital,… Read More