Asia

September 27, 2023 @ 8:45 am By Michael Wong  |  

Global crypto exchange Bybit and the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre (DMCC) have announced the launch of “Web3 Unleashed: Crypto Innovation Challenge” hackathon in Dubai. The event promises $100,000 prize pool and comes on the heels of a partnership that has already seen Bybit contribute AED500,000… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 10:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

PhonePe announced the launch of the Indus Appstore Developer Platform. With this launch, Indus Appstore is inviting all Android app developers to register and upload their apps using the self-serve developer platform. These apps will be listed on the soon to be launched “Made-in-India” Indus… Read More

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

Funding Societies, also known as Modalku, Southeast Asia’s largest unified SME digital finance platform, has successfully secured $27 million in debt funding, led by private credit financier AlteriQ Global. Multi-family office Aument Capital Partners (ACP) and sustainability-focused fund Orange Bloom also contributed to this funding… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 8:47 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asia Pacific region continues to hold on to its position as the top source of global capital in H1 2023, with Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan seizing spots among the top five global deployers of capital. Colliers’ recently published Global Capital Markets: Insights &… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 8:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

iStudio, an Apple Premium Reseller in Singapore, has recently partnered with Triple-A, a crypto payment gateway sanctioned by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to allow customers to make purchases using cryptocurrencies at selected iStudio stores. The iStudio stores include those in Jurong Point, Tampines… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 8:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A total of 9,527 deals (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing deals) were announced in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region during January to August 2023, which was “a decline of 21.5% over the 12,142 deals announced during the same period in 2022,” according… Read More

September 26, 2023 @ 8:26 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore multinational banking and financial services firm OCBC has announced that the OCBC Pay Anyone app will be retired in October, with the exact date to be confirmed soon. This is part of OCBC’s commitment to offer an enhanced app experience by integrating the features… Read More

September 25, 2023 @ 11:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong-based crypto firm Mixin announced that hackers have managed to steal around $200 million from its database. In a post on social media platform X, the company, which describes itself as a network for transferring digital assets, said the database of Mixin Network’s cloud… Read More

September 25, 2023 @ 10:59 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million loan to bolster Indonesia’s progressive endeavors in streamlining investment climates, fortifying trade, and advancing enterprises. The approval is an extension of the Competitiveness, Industrial Modernization, and Trade Acceleration Program (CITA), following the success of its… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 8:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In order to support innovation, financial inclusion as well as the emerging digital financial services ecosystem, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reportedly issued In-Principle Approvals for launching five digital retail-focused banking platforms. Pakistan’s newly approved online banks reportedly include HugoBank, KT Bank Pakistan… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 4:11 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, raised concerns regarding the influence of social commerce platforms like TikTok Shop on the operations and sales of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and traditional market merchants. He opined that platforms like TikTok should stick to… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 3:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

In what is being touted as Singapore‘s most significant money laundering operation, authorities reported a staggering increase in the total value of assets confiscated, now amounting to S$2.4 billion ($1.76 billion), according to a police announcement. The huge inventory of seized assets now encompasses over… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 3:47 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Nagad, a Mobile Financial Service (MFS) provider in Bangladesh, is on the verge of launching a digital bank. The company expects to receive its license from the Bangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, in the coming months. Sadaf Roksana, co-founder and executive director of Nagad… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 2:58 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Deepcoin Labs, a venture capital firm with a specialization in blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and digital assets, has been granted the “Proprietary Trading in Crypto-commodities” registration by the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC). This recognition coincides with the unveiling of a $10 million fund, explicitly earmarked to… Read More

September 24, 2023 @ 9:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The latest edition of Accenture’s (NYSE: ACN) China Digital Transformation Index shows that just 2% of Chinese companies are “undertaking the holistic, continuous digital transformation steps needed to drive long term, sustainable growth.” Samantha Zhu, chairperson of Accenture Greater China, said: “A convergence of external… Read More

September 23, 2023 @ 6:10 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Recent preliminary data reveals that in July, outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs), excluding reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), witnessed a 7.7% year-on-year growth, a slight decrease from the 7.8% reported in June. When assessed on a… Read More

September 23, 2023 @ 10:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

International insurtech bolttech welcomed leading impact investment firm LeapFrog Investments as a new strategic investor in an extension of its Series B round. LeapFrog’s $50 million investment adds to bolttech’s recent Series B funding round, now totaling US$246 million. bolttech will use the proceeds from… Read More

September 22, 2023 @ 8:31 am By Michael Wong  |  

Chinese digital payment giant Ant Group has officially integrated seven prominent Asian e-wallets and payment apps into its “Alipay+-in-China” Program (A+China Program). The firm confirmed that users of mPay (Macao SAR, China), Hipay (Mongolia), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC (Singapore), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay… Read More

September 22, 2023 @ 1:11 am By Michael Wong  |  

Starting next year, four top insurance companies headquartered in Singapore – AIA Singapore, Income Insurance, Prudential Assurance Company Singapore, and The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company – will undergo heightened capital requirements, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced. Specifically, the four insurers will… Read More

September 21, 2023 @ 3:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ebury, a global financial solutions provider, is pleased to announce its partnership with 360tf, one of the pioneers of trade finance facilities in the UAE region. This collaboration will aim to improve how 360tf’s clients “access international trade solutions, providing seamless and direct access to… Read More