Asia

August 30, 2026 @ 5:31 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Chinese AI company AInnovation Technology Group acquired a 51% equity interest in industrial software company Qingdao AInnovation ALP Intelligent Industrial Technology Co., Ltd. for a total consideration of RMB122.4 million ($17.1 million), according to a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing seen by CrowdFund Insider. AInnovation… Read More

August 30, 2026 @ 9:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed investing up to $500 million in a risk-sharing facility with Japan’s Mizuho Bank to expand supply chain financing in emerging markets. The proposed facility will have a total size of $1 billion and cover a portfolio of supply… Read More

August 30, 2026 @ 8:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Dunamu, the company behind South Korea’s digital-asset platform Upbit, has formed a strategic alliance with Visa (NYSE: V) to build new payment and financial products at the intersection of stablecoins, cross-border transfers, and artificial intelligence. The two firms presented a joint roadmap at Visa’s Global… Read More

August 30, 2026 @ 2:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and The South East Asian Central Banks Research and Training Centre (SEACEN Centre) held their fourth Financial Leadership Training Program in Hong Kong from Aug. 25 to… Read More

August 29, 2026 @ 2:27 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech investment in Singapore fell sharply in the first half of 2026 as investors became more selective and capital was concentrated in a smaller number of larger transactions, according to KPMG’s latest Pulse of Fintech report. Singapore fintech companies attracted more than $499 million across… Read More

August 29, 2026 @ 2:24 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Chinese technology giants are rapidly increasing spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure but face greater financial constraints than their U.S. counterparts, whose larger and more profitable core businesses provide stronger cash flow and greater capacity to sustain heavy investment, Moody’s Ratings said. Capital expenditure by leading… Read More

August 28, 2026 @ 11:21 am By JD Alois  |  

China-based bots are seeking to create political and social havoc in the US. This is according to a statement distributed by X Global Government Affairs. According to a post on X: “The X Safety team conducted an investigation into suspected Chinese inauthentic accounts involved in… Read More

August 26, 2026 @ 10:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Japan is preparing to develop a financial infrastructure that would allow near-instantaneous, around-the-clock settlement of stock and Japanese government bond transactions through distributed ledger technology (DLT), commonly known as blockchain. According to reports, this initiative aims to modernize the country’s payment and securities settlement systems,… Read More

August 26, 2026 @ 10:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Visa (NYSE: V) has joined a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)-supported effort aimed at bridging conventional financial payment systems with those built around stablecoins. The initiative, known as BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency), seeks to expand the settlement options available to banks and other institutions… Read More

August 25, 2026 @ 8:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Global asset management firm Franklin Templeton has joined forces with Hong Kong-based digital asset platform HashKey Exchange to make a tokenized money market fund available to investors throughout Asian markets. The collaboration marks another significant step in bringing traditional finance products onto blockchain infrastructure while… Read More

August 25, 2026 @ 8:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

India is set to introduce its inaugural tokenized corporate bonds in September, marking a significant step toward integrating blockchain technology into the country’s debt markets for near-instant transaction settlements. According to multiple sources familiar with the plans, this pilot initiative will be led by REC… Read More

August 25, 2026 @ 3:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Stripe, the global payments and financial infrastructure company, is commemorating ten years of operations in Singapore by rolling out a series of enhancements designed to help Asian companies expand internationally more efficiently. The updates focus on multi-currency treasury features, additional local payment options, and simplified… Read More

August 25, 2026 @ 5:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BitGo Holdings (NYSE: BTGO) has announced that its South Korean subsidiary has obtained official registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider. This development enables the firm to deliver specialized custody and transfer solutions tailored to professional clients within one of the region’s fast-growing cryptocurrency ecosystems…. Read More

August 24, 2026 @ 8:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-based fintech Chocolate Finance is extending its reach past individual savers by introducing a dedicated cash management product aimed at companies. Just two years after introducing its consumer platform, the firm is rolling out Chocolate Business, a solution designed to help organizations generate returns on… Read More

August 24, 2026 @ 2:41 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore’s DBS Bank (SGX: D05) has expanded the use of specialised agentic artificial intelligence tools to support roughly 1,500 relationship managers and credit risk managers worldwide in handling corporate credit assessments.The initiative, announced in mid-August 2026, follows a successful pilot involving 150 staff members. The… Read More

August 24, 2026 @ 2:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Global consumer-focused investment firm L Catterton has agreed to make a strategic investment in Japanese independent financial advisory firm Financial Standard, as the private equity firm seeks to tap growth in Japan’s expanding wealth management market. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed…. Read More

August 24, 2026 @ 1:25 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s national accountancy body has agreed to deepen cooperation with its Indian counterpart on artificial intelligence training and professional qualification recognition, potentially extending a Singapore-developed AI programme to more than 1.5 million members and students in India. The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and… Read More

August 23, 2026 @ 11:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Laser Digital Japan Co., Ltd. has finalized its registration as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider under the Payment Services Act. The Tokyo-based firm, the local arm of Nomura’s digital assets subsidiary Laser Digital, announced the milestone on August 21, 2026. This marks the first… Read More

August 23, 2026 @ 8:18 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Thredd to underpin Cashi’s Hong Kong stablecoin card debut Thredd contributes issuer processing infrastructure for Cashi, whose app lets users send and hold digital assets. The card can facilitate daily spending. In Hong Kong, users get virtual Visa cards and Google Pay support. Apple Pay… Read More

August 23, 2026 @ 8:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong broadcaster TVB Limited is planning an artificial intelligence computing venture with private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners that could receive up to HK$2 billion ($255 million) in equity investment from Gaw Capital, according to a stock exchange filing seen by CrowdFund Insider. TVB… Read More