Michael Wong

Philippine Banks Partner with JUST Finance to Launch PHPX Stablecoin

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

Singapore Fintech Firm FortiCard Enters US Market, Plans IPO

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

Dubai’s Pemo Secures $7m Pre-Series A Funding to Fuel GCC Expansion

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

Visa Invests in Four African Startups from Fintech Accelerator Program

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

Mainland Fintechs Pick Hong Kong as ASEAN Launchpad

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

Parallel Blockchain Startup Pharos Raises $8m to Develop Protocol

Pharos, a layer-1 blockchain network focused on hyper-parallelism, has completed an $8 million seed investment round. The funding was co-led by Lightspeed Faction and Hack VC, with SNZ Capital participating as a strategic anchor investor. Additional support came from Reforge, Dispersion Capital, Hash Global, Generative… Read More

Thailand Eyes Top Spot as Global Digital Hub

Thailand has the potential to become a world-class digital hub, which could offer a lot of economic opportunities for the country, Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said. During Thailand Blockchain Week 2024 at Emsphere shopping mall in Bangkok, he noted that digital technology,… Read More

Ant International and Partners Unveil MSME Sustainability Too

Global digital payment and financial services firm Ant International is collaborating with industry partners to develop the MSME Sustainability Impact Scorecard (MSME S-Card). This pioneering digital solution aims to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Asia to track their environmental and social impacts… Read More

Binance Labs Enters DeSci with BIO Protocol Investment

Binance Labs has made its first foray into the Decentralized Science (DeSci) sector with an investment in BIO Protocol (BIO), a pioneering platform aimed at transforming early-stage scientific research financing and commercialization through blockchain technology. BIO Protocol is likened to a Y Combinator for on-chain… Read More

Saudi and Hong Kong Strengthen Economic Link with New $1bn Joint Investment Fund

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 8th Edition in Riyadh to jointly anchor a proposed $1 billion investment fund. The initiative, announced on October 31, is… Read More

Investment Crowdfunding Platform Equitise Enters Administration After Failing to Secure Funding

Australian crowdfunding platform Equitise has entered administration after failing to secure new funding necessary to sustain its operations, according to a filing lodged with the corporate regulator seen by The Australian Financial Review. It was reported earlier this year that Equitise had lost its license… Read More

UAE’s Warburg AI Secures Fresh Funding to Boost AI Financial Services

Warburg AI, a UAE-based artificial intelligence company specializing in financial services, has raised $250,000 in seed funding to accelerate the development of its AI-driven financial solutions, according to an announcement. Founded in September 2024 in Sharjah by entrepreneurs Ben Feaver, Lancelot de Brier, and Madiyar… Read More

CryptoBlox Signs $5m Deal to Acquire Blockchain Fintech

Listed firm CryptoBlox Technologies Inc. has announced its acquisition of Blockchain Fintech Unipessoal LDA, a Portuguese company specializing in blockchain-based financial technologies. The announcement was part of the amended agreement that revises the initial acquisition terms disclosed on March 5, 2024, reflecting the latest developments… Read More

Singapore MAS Launches Global Fintech Network to Drive Innovation

Singapore at Night Marina Bay

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the establishment of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a new initiative designed to reinforce Singapore’s standing as a major global fintech hub while promoting international connectivity for impactful financial innovation. The GFTN aims to build on… Read More

Fintech Major Broadridge Expands in Canada with Kyndryl SIS Platform Buy

NYSE-listed global Fintech player Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has finalized its acquisition of Kyndryl’s Securities Industry Services (SIS) platform, a move aimed at strengthening its position in the Canadian financial services market. The SIS platform, known for providing wealth management and capital markets software solutions,… Read More

Malaysia’s GHL Systems partners with Japan’s JCB to accept cards in Southeast Asia

Malaysia’s GHL Systems Berhad and Japan’s JCB International Co Ltd have formed a strategic partnership to enable the acceptance of JCB cards for GHL’s merchants in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, the companies said. The collaboration aims to enhance payment convenience for merchants and shoppers… Read More

SEPA Cyber Rebrands as FinHub, Launches Financial Super Platform

SEPA Cyber Tech Group Holding Ltd., a prominent technology developer and venture capital firm based in London, has rebranded its financial technology division as FinHub and unveiled an ambitious financial super platform under the same name. FinHub’s newly launched platform is designed to meet the… Read More

SONECT Expands Banking Enablement Services Across Europe

Swiss-based Fintech company SONECT has announced its expansion into European Union markets, marking a strategic push to meet growing regional demand for flexible cash access and banking solutions. The move supports SONECT’s objective of providing efficient, accessible financial services across the EU, targeting both individual… Read More

Australia Launches Three-Year Plan to Explore CBDC Potential

Australia has announced a three-year initiative to explore central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), focusing on wholesale applications, regulatory reforms, and industry engagement. Brad Jones, Assistant Governor (Financial System) at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), shared details of the plan at an industry event in… Read More

Saudi Aramco’s Venture Arm Earmarks $100m for AI Startups

Wa’ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, has allocated $100 million to invest in early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) startups. The fund aims to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s push to enhance its competitiveness in the global AI sector, Bloomberg reported. The investment will be deployed… Read More

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