January 7, 2024 @ 4:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

ChowBanQ, a Fintech firm providing “sustainable banking practices,” is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO). In a statement, the company said its approach to trading and payments, which involves transfers between ‘buckets’ or individual online banking accounts, positions it as a standout player in the… Read More

January 6, 2024 @ 4:56 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Komunal, a Jakarta-based Fintech startup, has successfully raised $5.5 million in its extended Series A funding. The round was backed by a range of investors, including the prominent Sumitomo Corporation, and received support from existing backers like AlphaTrio Sustainable Technology Fund, Skystar Capital, Sovereign’s Capital, Ozora,… Read More

January 6, 2024 @ 8:10 am By Michael Wong  |  

KuCoin Labs, the incubator and investment arm of the KuCoin ecosystem, has announced its investment in DeMR, a decentralized Mixed Reality (MR) infrastructure built on the Solana Chain. This development marks the beginning of a comprehensive collaboration focusing on community operations and subsequent product development,… Read More

December 30, 2023 @ 6:04 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Sri Lanka has seen an exponential increase in the use of online loan applications across the country, according to a report by online lender Robocash said. The user base for these digital lending services has seen a dramatic rise, skyrocketing from 10,600 in August 2021… Read More

December 30, 2023 @ 12:58 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The UK’s Fintech sector is bracing for a talent crunch in the coming year, with a significant gap emerging between the demand for digital skills and the available workforce, City A.M. reported, quoting a leading industry figure. Charlotte Crosswell, chair of the Centre for Finance,… Read More

December 30, 2023 @ 11:55 am By Michael Wong  |  

Monex Group, a Japanese financial conglomerate known for its online brokerage, crypto exchange, and asset management services, has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Canada’s 3iQ Digital Holdings and its subsidiaries for $39.8 million. In a statement, Monex revealed its ambition to bolster… Read More

December 27, 2023 @ 7:14 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Corporate payments startup EnKash has achieved a significant milestone by securing regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator under the brand name “Olympus”. This approval marks a pivotal moment for EnKash, reinforcing its commitment to compliance and… Read More

December 24, 2023 @ 2:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Thailand’s Kasikornbank Pcl, the country’s second-largest bank, is developing a digital-asset ecosystem to provide innovative funding routes for companies, according to a Bloomberg report. This move includes the October acquisition of the licensed digital-asset exchange Satang Corp, marking a rare instance of a major lender… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 9:26 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech Alliance PH has commended the Philippine government for the enactment of the Internet Transactions Act (ITA), which aims to enhance and secure e-commerce transactions in the country. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11967, known as the ITA, marking a critical step… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 5:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has successfully driven the growth of the country’s crowdfunding sector, with funds raised approaching P2 billion (about $36 million) in the last three years. This surge in crowdfunding activity is a direct outcome of the SEC’s nationwide campaign,… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 3:39 am By Michael Wong  |  

London-listed Bowen Fintech has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Minnadeooyasan-Hanbai Co Ltd (MOH), a Japanese firm specializing in real estate crowdfunding services, according to reports. The acquisition involves Bowen Fintech purchasing 93.5% of MOH’s shares for £34.5 million. This transaction will be entirely… Read More

December 22, 2023 @ 9:21 am By Michael Wong  |  

LawFi, a mobile-first digital lending and payments platform for the legal profession, has announced raising $1.5 million in its pre-Seed funding round. The round, which will help finance the startup’s expansion, was backed by investment firm Capital Q Ventures and its fund CAPQ BDC. LawFi… Read More

December 22, 2023 @ 7:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

Global investment firm Blackstone has announced a significant move in Japan’s financial technology (fintech) sector, with its private equity funds entering into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Sony Payment Services Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Blackstone will acquire Sony Payment from… Read More

December 22, 2023 @ 4:11 am By Michael Wong  |  

Sumitomo Life Insurance Company (Sumitomo Life) has agreed to acquire all shares of Singapore digital insurer Singlife held by TPG, which currently owns about 35% of the insurtech firm. Furthering its investment, Sumitomo Life plans to extend offers to purchase shares from the remaining shareholders… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 7:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Saudi Arabian fintech savings platform Hakbah has successfully raised $5.1 million in a Series A funding round, a substantial boost for the savings platform’s growth and innovation strategies. The round was anchored by venture capital firm VentureSouq and backed by new investors M-Capital and Bunat… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 12:59 pm By Michael Wong  |  

SOMA Finance,a joint venture between MANTRA and Tritaurian Capital, has launched the first components of its hybrid decentralized digital platform, SOMA.finance. The platform, operated by Tritaurian, is set to be the world’s first compliant hybrid decentralized exchange and launchpad. It is noteworthy as the first… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 3:10 am By Michael Wong  |  

Abu Dhabi-based Changer.ae has been granted a license by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate as a cryptocurrency custodian service. As the first regionally built, independent virtual asset custody provider in the UAE, Changer addresses the increasing… Read More

December 20, 2023 @ 10:04 pm By Michael Wong  |  

A new survey has highlighted a growing trend among Indian consumers towards using digital services for loans and financial transactions, coupled with a significant lack of awareness about data privacy. According to Home Credit India’s ‘How India Borrows Survey 2023’, only 18% of borrowers surveyed… Read More

December 17, 2023 @ 4:07 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Economy and the Government Development has nominated ABHI, a Pakistani fintech operator, as one of the emerging companies contributing significantly to the nation’s economic sector. This recognition came as ABHI recently inked a deal with Visa Inc. and… Read More

December 17, 2023 @ 3:11 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has officially introduced a set of rules aimed at regulating “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services, marking a significant step in overseeing and controlling this rapidly growing sector. This development, as stated in a recent SAMA press release, is part… Read More