Michael Wong

Brunei, Laos Join ASEAN Regional Payment Connectivity Initiative

The Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) and the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) have officially joined the Regional Payment Connectivity (RPC), marking a significant milestone in ASEAN’s financial integration efforts, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced. The BDCB’s accession to the RPC… Read More

Singapore Enhances Regulation of Digital Payment Services with New Amendments

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced significant amendments to the Payment Services Act (PS Act) and its subsidiary legislation, marking a pivotal step in expanding the regulatory framework for payment services within the city-state. These amendments, which aim to incorporate a broader spectrum of… Read More

Fintech Firm Zeepay Secures Equity Funding for Expansion in Africa, the Caribbean

Zeepay, a finteh startup based in Accra, Ghana, has announced raising an undisclosed amount in its latest round of equity funding. The funding round was spearheaded by prominent investors including Africa50, Oikocredit, Injaro Ghana Venture Capital Fund (IGVCF), and Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund, with additional… Read More

Generative AI Fintech zypl.ai Secures Funding in Commercial Bank International-led Round

zypl.ai, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) fintech lending startup, announced it secured significant investment from Dubai-based corporate and retail bank Commercial Bank International (CBI) along with other global investors in a post-seed bridge round. This strategic investment precedes zypl.ai’s anticipated Series A funding round set… Read More

Ellipsis Labs Raises $20m in Series A to Propel DeFi Innovation

Ellipsis Labs, a player in the development of on-chain exchange technologies, has announced raising a total of $20 million in its Series A funding round. The round was led by Paradigm, with significant contributions from Electric Capital, highlighting strong investor confidence in Ellipsis Labs’ potential… Read More

India: Digital Lending Apps to Get Verification via New DIGITA Agency

The Reserve Bank of India is contemplating the establishment of the Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) in a move to combat the escalating cyber fraud. This initiative aims to clamp down on the proliferation of illicit lending applications by instituting a verification system for digital… Read More

Visa’s New AI Suite Targets $40bn in Fraud Prevention

Credit card major Visa Inc. is poised to enhance its fraud-prevention capabilities by incorporating three new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools into its product suite for business clients, according to a Bloomberg report. This move underscores the company’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to bolster security… Read More

Qatar Introduces National E-Card Himyan in Digital Push

Qatar has launched its “first national e-card with registered Qatari brand,” named Himyan, as announced by the Qatar Central Bank. This initiative aligns with the country’s Third Financial Sector Strategy, emphasizing the development of Qatar’s digital payments infrastructure. Himyan represents a significant advancement in the… Read More

QNB Group Launches FAWRAN for Innovative Payment Experience in Qatar

QNB Group, the leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, has announced the launch of “FAWRAN,” a revolutionary payment method designed to enhance the payment experience for its customers in Qatar. This innovative service allows for quick and secure transactions using just the… Read More

Singapore: AI Cybersecurity Startup StealthMole Lands $7m in Funding

Singapore-based AI cybersecurity firm StealthMole has announced raising $7 million in Series A funding, a round spearheaded by Korea Investment Partners (KIP). This investment round also saw contributions from Hibiscus Fund, a multinational venture between RHL Ventures, Penjana Kapital, and KB Investment, alongside Smilegate Investment…. Read More

Malaysia: AirAsia’s Digital Arm Partners with FinTech Giant for Payment Expansion

MOVE Digital, the digital arm of Malaysia-listed aviation group Capital A, announced a strategic collaboration with Singapore’s fintech powerhouse, Ant International. This partnership aims to diversify payment methods, enhance digital marketing efforts, and foster sustainable finance practices for the micro, small & medium enterprise (MSME)… Read More

Japan’s MyShell Raises $11m for AI Chatbot Creation on Blockchain

MyShell, a Tokyo-based innovator in the field of artificial intelligence, announced that it has successfully raised $11 million in a Pre-Series A funding round. This recent injection of capital, led by Dragonfly Capital and supported by a consortium of investors including Delphi Ventures, Bankless Ventures,… Read More

IMF Encourages Pacific Island Nations to Explore Digital Money Benefits

Pacific Island nations are poised to harness the digital money revolution to enhance their financial systems, improve financial inclusion, and counteract the decline in correspondent banking relationships, according to research conducted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The geographic isolation, small size, and distinct challenges… Read More

Blockhouse Digital Lands $2m Funding to Boost Collateralized Lending in Crypto

Blockhouse Digital, an asset management firm focused on collateralized lending and yield-generating strategies within the cryptocurrency markets, has announced the successful closure of its $2 million seed GP funding round. This financial milestone was achieved with contributions from strategic partners, notably including its institutional OTC… Read More

Germany: B2B Fintech Startup Bavest Secures $1.2m in Pre-Seed Funding

Bavest, a Frankfurt/Munich-based business-to-business fintech firm, has announced raising €1.1 million (about $1.2 million) in a pre-seed funding round, signaling strong market confidence in its innovative financial infrastructure solutions. The investment round draws support from a notable group of backers, including Bitpanda co-founder Christian Trummer,… Read More

Gulf Energy Leads Bid for Thailand’s Virtual Bank License

Thailand energy conglomerate Gulf Energy Development Plc is teaming up with telecommunications powerhouse Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) and the esteemed Krungthai Bank Plc (KTB) to enter the burgeoning field of virtual banking in the country. According to a report by The Nation, this collaboration… Read More

Visa, Thunes Expand Payment Networks Across Key Markets

Thunes, a Singapore-based cross-border payments company, announced its enhanced strategic partnership with Visa, the global titan in digital payments. This collaboration is set to introduce new payment endpoints across vital markets in Asia and Africa, marking a significant step forward in the expansion of digital… Read More

Copilot Raises $6m in Series A Funding to Expand Personal Finance Tool

Personal finance app operator Copilot announced that it has successfully raised $6 million in a Series A funding round anchored by venture capital firm Adjacent. The round is aimed at expanding the app’s reach across all platforms and bolstering its artificial intelligence and product development… Read More

Espresso Systems Raises $28m in Series B Funding for Blockchain Sequencing Marketplace

Blockchain project Espresso Systems has successfully closed a $28 million Series B funding round, with a16z crypto leading the investment. This latest financial boost brings the total funding to over $60 million, following a $30 million Series A round in 2022 and an initial $2… Read More

KuCoin Becomes First FIU-Compliant Global Crypto Exchange in India

KuCoin, a global cryptocurrency exchange and ranked within the top seven, has announced its achievement as the first Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) compliant global crypto exchange in India. This landmark accomplishment highlights a crucial moment in the dynamic landscape of Indian cryptocurrency amidst recent regulatory… Read More

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