Asia

February 13, 2026 @ 2:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the ecosystem of digital finance, cryptocurrencies are increasingly entangled with serious crimes. According to a recent report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, transactions tied to these illicit activities spiked dramatically in 2025, rising by 85% compared to the previous year and amounting to hundreds… Read More

February 12, 2026 @ 10:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The global fintech landscape in 2025 as well as early 2026 reveals a state of contrasting developments across regions. In the United Kingdom, once a powerhouse of financial innovation, investment experienced a notable downturn. Funding for UK fintech companies dropped 21% in 2025, reaching approximately… Read More

February 11, 2026 @ 9:45 am By JD Alois  |  

China is home to the second-largest economy in the world. It is also home to many very large Fintechs. Recently, it was reported that authorities reiterated their ban on crypto and on private firms enabling digital assets. But one observer says China is not anti-tokenization;… Read More

February 10, 2026 @ 6:32 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Turnstile, developer of a quote-to-cash platform for sales-led startups, this week announced $29 million in funding from First Round, OMERS Ventures, Illuminate Financial, and some angel investors. When SaaS first emerged, it was built around a simple per-seat model: swipe a card, add users, and… Read More

February 10, 2026 @ 6:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled plans for a $1 billion investment in artificial intelligence over the next four years, culminating by 2030. This initiative was revealed during the opening of Indus AI Week 2026, a week-long event in Islamabad running from February 9… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 5:48 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, particularly involving stablecoins and organized scam operations. With stablecoins surpassing a $300 billion market cap, they offer efficient cross-border payments but also serve as tools for illicit finance. Elliptic’s recent analyses reveal how… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 12:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Omnispay, a UAE-based fintech focused on payments and cash-flow tools for small and medium-sized enterprises, has raised $2 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Infinity Value Capital Group, the company said. The fresh capital will fund product development and expansion as omnispay shifts… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 12:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In early February 2026, Chinese regulators (again) escalated their long-standing opposition to cryptocurrencies by issuing a joint statement from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and seven other agencies. The directive reportedly bans unauthorized offshore issuance of yuan-linked stablecoins and imposes strict vetting on tokens… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 10:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In the unpredictable ecosystem of cryptocurrency-facilitated crime, significant updates highlight both the adaptability of underground markets and the intensifying efforts by authorities to dismantle them. Despite global enforcement pushes, TRM Labs noted that some platforms continue to thrive, while others face severe repercussions for their… Read More

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 @ 7:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Over the years, Regtech SlowMist has emerged as a key player in safeguarding digital assets. Founded in 2018, by a group of network security professionals, the company says it has spent the past eight years navigating the tumultuous landscape of the industry. From boom-and-bust cycles… 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 8, 2026 @ 1:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korea’s cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb inadvertently distributed approximately 620,000 Bitcoins—valued at over $40 billion—to around 695 users during a routine promotional campaign. The mishap occurred when staff mistakenly credited accounts with 2,000 BTC per recipient instead of the intended modest cash prize of 2,000 Korean… 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 6, 2026 @ 3:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), the city’s US$8 billion sovereign wealth fund, is sharpening its investment strategy by targeting sectors like fintech, aerospace, and artificial intelligence. This move aims to capitalize on Hong Kong’s unique position amid intensifying global competition, geopolitical tensions, and evolving… Read More

February 5, 2026 @ 9:34 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Payoneer this week announced the expansion of its global payment platform with new collection capabilities in Indonesia and enhanced local collection services in Mexico. These additions enable customers to transact and receive funds from local buyers and e-commerce platforms faster and more cost-effectively. Payoneer empowers SMBs… 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 @ 11:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has recently rolled out significant initiatives aimed at bolstering the financial landscape in Hong Kong. On February 3, 2026, the authority introduced a comprehensive strategy to propel fintech innovation forward, while a day earlier, it released findings from a… Read More

February 4, 2026 @ 10:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing their longstanding partnership.  The agreement, signed in Beijing, coincided with the UK Prime Minister’s official visit to China, underscoring the… Read More