May 6, 2024 @ 8:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, has issued new regulations mandating that banks and other financial institutions report significant incidents related to money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing within 24 hours. The directive, outlined in a circular signed… Read More

May 5, 2024 @ 10:49 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar’s innovative payment solutions provider, PayLater, has been granted access to the prestigious sandbox program of the Qatar Central Bank, heralding a significant shift in the financial landscape for consumers in Qatar. This development marks a major milestone for the company, signaling increased financial flexibility… Read More

May 5, 2024 @ 9:17 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially lifted restrictions on two digital lending products of Bajaj Finance, nearly six months after imposing curbs due to non-compliance with its digital lending guidelines. The announcement, made in a regulatory filing by Bajaj Finance, noted that effective… Read More

May 5, 2024 @ 5:47 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Indian fintech giant Paytm has announced significant changes to its executive team following the resignation of its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Bhavesh Gupta. Gupta stepped down citing personal reasons, according to a statement released by Paytm’s parent company, One 97 Communications Ltd. His departure comes… Read More

May 5, 2024 @ 3:33 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pantera Capital has announced a significant investment in TON, the Telegram L1 blockchain, signaling a major push to boost cryptocurrency adoption across the globe. Revealed on the social media platform X, this collaboration is set to utilize Telegram’s vast user base of over 900 million… Read More

May 4, 2024 @ 5:12 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Digital asset firm Volta has unveiled its latest innovation, the Volta Circuit platform, which secured $4.1 million in seed funding from Fika Ventures and Haven Ventures. Volta Circuit distinguishes itself by being a non-custodial, multi-signature platform that promises the fastest, easiest, and most secure method… Read More

April 28, 2024 @ 5:07 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has taken a significant stride in promoting financial innovation by approving the first cohort of ‘Buy Now Pay Later‘ (BNPL) companies for its regulatory sandbox, a pivotal part of the Third Financial Sector Strategy and the Fintech Strategy. This move… Read More

April 28, 2024 @ 3:54 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has awarded a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) license to M/s Edufi Financial Services (Private) Limited. This license marks a notable advancement in the Pakistani financial sector by establishing the first digital platform for ‘Study Now, Pay Later’… Read More

April 28, 2024 @ 10:01 am By Michael Wong  |  

Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ announced the launch of the Jasoor Fund, a new technology-focused investment fund, with a capital base of $180 million The fund aims to drive digital transformation and economic growth across the region. This initiative marks a crucial milestone in the… Read More

April 27, 2024 @ 4:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Salmon Group Ltd, a Fintech group in Southeast Asia, has announced a strategic partnership with ECPay, a provider of electronic payment systems in the Philippines. This collaboration aims to broaden financial accessibility for over 500 million underserved individuals in the region, particularly those without traditional… Read More

April 27, 2024 @ 4:53 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has mandated ID verification for all digital transactions exceeding one million Uganda shillings ($260), according to local reports. Announced on April 19, 2024, through its official X account, this directive requires users to present a government-issued ID for transactions at… Read More

April 27, 2024 @ 4:48 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintoc, a pioneering Chilean startup offering an instant payments API, has successfully raised $7 million in a Series A funding round, TechCrunch has reported. The investment was led by Propel, with significant participation from Monashees, which also spearheaded Fintoc’s $3 million seed round in June… Read More

April 26, 2024 @ 5:20 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to elucidate its guidelines on Default Loss Guarantee (DLG) in the burgeoning field of digital lending. This release aims to provide detailed clarifications on the operational aspects of DLG, a… Read More

April 26, 2024 @ 5:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Thailand and Australia have entered into a new phase of financial collaboration with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on financial technology (fintech) cooperation. The agreement, aimed at bolstering the local fintech industries of both nations, was formalized this week between the Thai… Read More

April 26, 2024 @ 5:17 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Users of 14 popular e-wallets from nine countries and regions can now make transactions in Hong Kong using their home applications, facilitated by Alipay+, Ant International announced on Friday. This integration marks the largest single-time introduction of international payment apps into Hong Kong’s offline commercial… Read More

April 26, 2024 @ 5:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The UK government has granted new powers to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and police forces, effective today, to seize, freeze, and destroy cryptoassets involved in criminal activities, Irish Legal News has reported. This regulatory update addresses the increasing exploitation of cryptocurrencies by criminals, including… Read More

April 26, 2024 @ 7:50 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC) is set to convene on Monday, May 6, 2024, to discuss key topics in small business financing, including the state of Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) and trends in angel investing. The meeting, accessible… Read More

April 25, 2024 @ 11:31 pm By Michael Wong  |  

BillEase, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) app and consumer finance platform in the Philippines, announced a $5 million investment from Saison Investment Management Private Limited (SIMPL), the offshore lending arm of Saison International Pte. Ltd. This funding is part of an expansion that doubles… Read More

April 25, 2024 @ 10:28 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine digital banking sector has attracted more than $700 million in investments from both global and local sources since 2021, demonstrating robust investor confidence and a rapidly growing market, according to a statement released by the Digital Bank Association of the Philippines (DiBA PH)…. Read More

April 25, 2024 @ 10:45 am By Michael Wong  |  

Wealthtech startup Midas, which specializes in democratizing retail investing, has secured $45 million in Series A funding to expand its financial services offerings. The funding round was led by Toronto-based venture capital firm Portage, known for its significant investments in the Fintech sector, including a… Read More