December 10, 2024 @ 7:17 pm By Michael Wong  |  

CIMB Bank Philippines will not seek a digital banking license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), opting instead to enhance its digital banking capabilities using its existing commercial banking license. The bank believes this approach provides sufficient flexibility to introduce a broader range of… Read More

December 9, 2024 @ 9:14 am By Michael Wong  |  

French crowdfunding platform Ulule has acquired its KissKissBankBank from La Banque Postale for an undisclosed amount, according to reports.  La Banque Postale acquired KissKissBankBank in 2017. At the time of the purchase the CEO of La Banque Postale explained the move as responding to new consumption… Read More

December 8, 2024 @ 4:11 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Indonesia-based real estate marketplace Lamudi, a subsidiary of Australia’s Digital Classifieds Group, announced the acquisition of Ideal, a Fintech aggregator specializing in mortgage products in Indonesia. This strategic move aims to integrate mortgage facilitation into Lamudi’s platform, offering a more comprehensive solution for property buyers… Read More

December 8, 2024 @ 4:03 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Czech Republic has approved extensive financial market reforms aimed at fostering growth in the crypto and blockchain sectors, in a strategic move to position itself as a premier cryptocurrency hub. According to reports, the newly passed legislation addresses key barriers faced by cryptocurrency companies… Read More

December 8, 2024 @ 6:54 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) announced the introduction of two new electronic payment solutions set to launch in mid-2025. These initiatives aim to facilitate the transition from traditional cheques to digital payments for both corporate and… Read More

December 6, 2024 @ 10:08 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Seven crowdfunding and donation platforms in the Netherlands have agreed to provide clearer information about the fees they charge, following action by the Dutch consumer authority ACM. The platforms—Doneeractie, Doneerveilig, Geef.nl, Getfunded, GoFundMe, Steunactie, and Whydonate—will improve transparency around deductions, including value-added tax (VAT), to… Read More

December 6, 2024 @ 9:10 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Ant International has joined Swift’s Network Interoperability Reference Implementation program, becoming part of a select group of global payment service providers (PSPs) working to enhance interoperability across cross-border payment systems. The initiative, announced on Friday, is structured as a pre-pilot designed to improve payment transparency… Read More

December 3, 2024 @ 8:18 am By Michael Wong  |  

US e-commerce giant Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)announced that it has invested more than S$2 billion ($1.49 billion) across its retail and cloud businesses in Singapore in 2023, bolstering its presence in the Southeast Asian market and supporting over 10,000 indirect jobs. The investment encompasses capital expenditure on… Read More

December 1, 2024 @ 6:22 pm By Michael Wong  |  

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed on Sunday to postpone the implementation of a controversial cryptocurrency tax by two years, responding to mounting investor backlash and political pressure. The decision mirrors the party’s move a month earlier to scrap a planned… Read More

December 1, 2024 @ 2:00 pm By Michael Wong  |  

US-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has withdrawn its pre-application to operate in Turkey, according to a report by Turkiye Today. The Capital Markets Board of Türkiye updated its list of companies requesting liquidation on November 29. The update revealed that Coinbase, which had initially filed its… Read More

November 30, 2024 @ 8:16 pm By Michael Wong  |  

British digital savings and mortgage platform Tembo has secured €16.8 million ($17.8 million) in a Series B funding round, aiming to expand its services and tackle the ongoing affordability challenges in the UK’s housing market. This latest investment brings the company’s total funding to €24… Read More

November 24, 2024 @ 6:46 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has announced a strategic investment in Wahed, a global financial technology company that specializes in Shariah-compliant investing. The move underscores QDB’s commitment to fostering innovation and advancing Islamic finance. Wahed, founded in 2015, has grown into a major player in the… Read More

November 24, 2024 @ 6:42 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Australia’s Department of the Treasury has initiated a consultation on implementing the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). The framework is designed to enhance tax transparency and improve compliance by standardizing the collection and exchange of tax-related information on… Read More

November 24, 2024 @ 6:40 pm By Michael Wong  |  

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) plans to enhance the monitoring of abnormal transactions in virtual asset exchanges as market volatility intensifies, particularly following the U.S. presidential election. This move aims to address gaps in current systems and bolster consumer protection measures. Virtual asset exchanges… Read More

November 23, 2024 @ 5:40 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Philippine fintech startup Salmon is aiming to secure a thrift bank license for the Rural Bank of Santa Rosa as part of its strategic expansion in the country, according to company officials. The move is intended to transform the rural bank into a retail-oriented thrift… Read More

November 17, 2024 @ 9:08 pm By Michael Wong  |  

A group of prominent Philippine financial institutions has teamed up with Web 3.0 fintech firm JUST Finance to introduce PHPX, the first bank-collateralized Philippine Peso stablecoin. This initiative, led by UnionBank of the Philippines (UBX), RCBC, Cantilan Bank, and Rural Bank of Guinobatan, along with… Read More

November 17, 2024 @ 6:06 pm By Michael Wong  |  

FortiCard, a Singapore-based global Fintech firm, has announced the establishment of its subsidiary in the United States and the acquisition of a Money Services Business (MSB) license issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This development marks… Read More

November 17, 2024 @ 6:04 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Dubai-based spend management platform Pemo announced raising $7 million in a Pre-Series A funding round. The investment comes as the company seeks to accelerate its growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, including plans to expand into Saudi Arabia. The funding round was co-led… Read More

November 16, 2024 @ 4:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global card payment processor Visa (NYSE:V)has made strategic investments in four African startups—Ghana’s Oze, Nigeria’s Orda, and Kenya’s WorkPay and OkHi—following their participation in the company’s Africa Fintech Accelerator program. The initiative, launched in 2023, is part of Visa’s broader commitment to invest $1 billion… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 5:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech companies from mainland China are increasingly choosing Hong Kong as the base for their headquarters, attracted by the city’s capital accessibility and a strong talent pool. These firms are leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic position to expand their operations into ASEAN markets. KN Group, a… Read More