Asia

October 10, 2023 @ 9:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tarabut, MENA’s leading open banking platform, has announced a new partnership with FLOOSS, a Bahrain-based digital lending platform. FLOOSS is reportedly the “first” and fastest digital loan app in Bahrain “offering consumer loans of up to BHD 750 with a repayment period of up to… Read More

October 9, 2023 @ 12:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

OurCrowd, one of the largest global securities crowdfunding platforms in operation, has issued a statement on the ongoing war in Israel. OurCrowd’s headquarters are based in Jerusalem, and many of its investments are in the tech firms within the hot Israeli startup scene. In the… Read More

October 8, 2023 @ 6:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong sees a larger share of transaction volume “coming in large institutional transactions of $10 million or more compared to other countries in the region — notably mainland China,” according to an update from Chainalysis. On the other end of the spectrum is South… Read More

October 8, 2023 @ 1:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million policy-based loan to support the Philippines government in creating a stronger institutional and policy environment to help expand Filipinos’ access to financial services, particularly the vulnerable segment of the population, and to promote economic growth…. Read More

October 5, 2023 @ 10:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong’s push towards blockchain enabled Web3 innovation received strong tailwind through a new fund that CMCC Global launched this week. CMCC Global, one of Asia’s earliest venture capital investors “to entirely focus on blockchain technology and Web3 innovation, announced the launch of a venture… Read More

October 4, 2023 @ 2:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Six months into 2023, private real estate was still “weathering ongoing macroeconomic headwinds,” according to an update shared by Pitchbook. In the US, the federal funds rate “has steadily increased since March 2022, hovering within a range of 5.0% and 5.25% as of the end… Read More

October 4, 2023 @ 7:42 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Earlier this year, Ripple received in-principle approval of its Major Payments Institution (MPI) license application from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Four months on, Ripple is pleased to “announce that its Singapore subsidiary, Ripple Markets APAC Pte Ltd, has secured its full MPI license… Read More

October 4, 2023 @ 7:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Japan’s largest bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), has increased its LP capital commitment to the non-dilutive funds operated by Mars Growth Capital from $750 million  to $1 billion. This signals MUFG’s strong belief in the future potential of MARS Growth Capital, a joint venture… Read More

October 3, 2023 @ 9:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ABHI, an embedded finance company announced a partnership with Pakistan Cables Limited, the cable manufacturer in Pakistan. This collaboration aims to provide AbhiSalary – Earned Wage Access “to the employees of Pakistan Cables Limited, thereby promoting financial wellness.” Through AbhiSalary – Earned Wage Access, employees… Read More

October 2, 2023 @ 7:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SATYA MicroCapital Limited has reportedly secured INR 500Cr (appr. $60 million) debt funding from Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC Bank). RBI registered NBFC-MFI, SATYA MicroCapital Limited has successfully “raised INR 500Cr (USD 60Mn) from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation which is a Japanese multinational banking… Read More

October 2, 2023 @ 7:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the global financial center in the MENA and Southeast Asia region, has proposed to enact a Digital Assets Law, a Law of Security and related amendments to select existing legislation “to cater to the requirements of the DIFC’s proposed digital… Read More

October 2, 2023 @ 11:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The DFINITY Foundation, a “not-for-profit” research and development organization and major contributor to the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) blockchain, announced the launch of the ICP Asia Alliance and a $20 million grant fund “to support the growth and development of Asia-based initiatives in the field… Read More

October 2, 2023 @ 8:41 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Coinbase Singapore has obtained a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. This development, coming after Coinbase’s (NASDAQ:COIN) initial In Principle Approval, amplifies their commitment to the Singapore market, enabling them “to expand their provision of Digital Payment Token services to… Read More

October 2, 2023 @ 6:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc (Mynt), the parent company of the most popular e-wallet in the Philippines GCash, is acquiring Electronic Commerce Payments Inc (ECPay) for about $40 million, according to a disclosure Monday. In a statement, Globe Telecom, the parent company of Mynt, said it… Read More

September 30, 2023 @ 6:49 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR), the research arm of the Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF) has officially joined the ASEAN+3 Finance Think-Tank Network (AFTN) as a founding member institution. The ASEAN+3 Finance Think-Tank Network is a coalition established to… Read More

September 30, 2023 @ 4:07 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has revealed in its recent publication on 29 September that there has been a slight increment in total deposits with authorized institutions by 0.6% in August 2023. The deposits consisted of Hong Kong dollar deposits, which saw an increase… Read More

September 29, 2023 @ 5:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

Three Arrows Capital (3AC), a digital asset hedge fund, co-founder Su Zhu has been arrested at the Changi Airport in Singapore, according to multiple reports. 3AC was a catalyst in the crypto collapse of 2022. Things took a dramatic turn for the worse when TerraUSD/LUNA… Read More

September 29, 2023 @ 8:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Elliptic – the global leader in cryptoasset risk management – is partnering with MaiCoin and MAX Exchange, which are both integral platforms of MaiCoin Group in Taiwan. The collaboration will further MaiCoin Group’s commitment “to advancing digital assets into the mainstream, while providing its clientele… Read More

September 28, 2023 @ 10:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Currencycloud, the Fintech focused on simplifying business in a multi-currency world, has more than tripled its Chinese customer growth rate across Asia-Pacific since establishing its APAC headquarters in 2021, “with its Chinese client base expanding from four to 12 organisations across the region.” As one… Read More

September 28, 2023 @ 10:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pravjit Tiwana, CEO APAC and Global CTO at Gemini, notes that in May, they announced the launch of Gemini’s Gurgaon technology development center in India. Now, Gemini are pleased to build on that announcement and reveal that they have opened their office “within the Cyber Hub… Read More