February 9, 2026 @ 9:17 am By Michael Wong  |  

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb’s chief executive apologised to users after a recent Bitcoin overpayment incident, as the platform moved to compensate customers and strengthen internal controls. CEO Lee Jae-won said the company “sincerely apologizes for the concern and inconvenience caused,” adding that Bithumb would… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 1:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

Card payments in Spain are on track to top $550 billion dollars by 2029, as near-universal access to bank accounts, broad merchant acceptance and the continued shift to contactless transactions accelerate the move toward electronic payments, data provider GlobalData forecast. The value of card payments… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 4:01 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a 0.1% tax on turnover for each crypto-asset transfer conducted through platforms operated by licensed service providers, under a draft circular released for public consultation, The Hanoi Times reported. Under the draft framework, crypto-asset transfers and trading would be… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 11:59 am By Michael Wong  |  

South Korea and Indonesia plan to launch a cross-border QR-code payment service in April, allowing visitors to pay at merchants in either country using their domestic QR payment apps, Indonesia’s central bank said. The planned linkage underscores how central banks are increasingly treating retail payments… Read More

February 6, 2026 @ 10:23 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Electric scooter maker SLEEK EV said it has secured an $8.5 million first close in its Series A funding round, led by KYMCO Capital and backed by more than 20 supply-chain partners from Taiwan and mainland China, as it looks to expand production and charging… Read More

February 5, 2026 @ 3:35 am By Michael Wong  |  

Cross-border payments in Southeast Asia are shifting from pure remittances to “everyday” obligations, like social security contributions, where compliance and local rails are as important as speed. A new Malaysia–Philippines partnership is betting that overseas Filipinos will be an early driver of that interoperable-payments push…. Read More

February 4, 2026 @ 1:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Snout, a pet healthcare financing platform, said it has secured more than $110 million in total capital to expand access to affordable, prevention-first veterinary care across the United States, betting that simpler monthly payment plans can lift routine care uptake while reducing administrative friction for… Read More

February 2, 2026 @ 7:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

In a year when capital is moving faster than diplomacy, two of the world’s most discreet financial hubs chose a quieter venue to compare notes: a closed-door meeting room in Switzerland’s capital. Hong Kong and Switzerland held the eighth Hong Kong–Switzerland Financial Dialogue in Bern… Read More

February 2, 2026 @ 4:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Asia-based stablecoin trading and payment platform OSL Group said it has raised $200 million (HK$1.56 billion) in equity financing, as the company looks to expand globally and consolidate its position in regulated digital payments and stablecoin infrastructure. OSL said the net proceeds will be used… Read More

February 2, 2026 @ 12:39 am By Michael Wong  |  

For six days ahead of Bangladesh’s national election, the country’s most common political “campaign tool” may not be a rally or a poster, but a throttled digital wallet. Bangladesh Bank is preparing to cap mobile financial service (MFS) transfers at 10,000 taka (about $82) per… Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 6:03 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The European Commission has stepped up enforcement of its crypto-asset regulatory framework, opening infringement procedures against 13 member states over failures to implement or comply with new European Union rules governing crypto-asset taxation and markets. In its latest package of infringement decisions, the European Commission… Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 5:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Sovereign wealth funds typically spread capital across global markets. The Philippines’ newest one says it is narrowing its focus instead. The Maharlika Investment Corporation, the Philippines’ sovereign wealth fund, said it will deploy capital in fiscal year 2026 across four strategic pillars — energy, logistics,… Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 10:26 am By Michael Wong  |  

Card payments in Singapore are forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2% between 2025 and 2029 to reach S$209.2 billion ($158.3 billion) by the end of the period, supported by near-universal access to banking services, wide merchant acceptance and rising use… Read More

January 31, 2026 @ 11:50 am By Michael Wong  |  

Dealroom.co, a global data platform focused on startups, high-growth companies and venture capital, has raised $7 million in a new investment round led by Indico Capital Partners, with participation from Rabobank and existing investors Beringea, Shoe Investments, and Knight Capital, the company said. Founded in… Read More

January 27, 2026 @ 5:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong’s central bank published the next phase of its sustainable finance taxonomy, as the city steps up efforts to channel capital towards green and transition activities and support its shift to a low-carbon economy. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said it has released… Read More

January 26, 2026 @ 9:47 am By Michael Wong  |  

PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:PYPL)said it has agreed to acquire Cymbio, a multi-channel commerce orchestration platform, as the payments giant steps up its push into AI-powered and agentic commerce. The deal will strengthen PayPal’s ability to help merchants sell products across so-called agentic surfaces, including AI platforms… Read More

January 25, 2026 @ 1:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Sweden’s EQT said it will launch a 57.0 billion yen ($371 million) tender offer to take private MAMEZO, a Tokyo-based IT services and consulting firm, in the private equity group’s first Japan investment focused on IT services. BPEA EQT Mid-Market Growth Partnership will offer 3,551… Read More

January 25, 2026 @ 7:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Kuwait Investment Authority-backed Raqami Islamic Digital Bank (RIDB) plans to begin operations in Pakistan next month with a $100 million investment, Bloomberg reported, marking another Gulf-backed entry into the country’s financial sector. The lender will become Pakistan’s first fully digital Shariah-compliant bank, offering online financing,… Read More

January 24, 2026 @ 4:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

San Francisco–based startup GIGR (doing business as Playad) said it has raised $5.4 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate the development of AI-powered marketing agents designed to help companies create, test, and optimise advertising creative with less manual effort. The round was led by BRV… Read More

January 24, 2026 @ 3:12 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore launched a new governance framework aimed at guiding the safe and responsible deployment of agentic artificial intelligence, as governments and businesses grapple with the growing autonomy of AI systems. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo announced the Model AI Governance Framework (MGF)… Read More