Asia

May 28, 2026 @ 5:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Investment platform Kraken has rolled out significant enhancements to its platform, focusing on user-friendly earning opportunities and strategic international expansion. These developments underscore the exchange’s commitment to accessibility, security, and compliance in the evolving digital assets landscape. On May 21, 2026, Kraken introduced AVAX staking… Read More

May 28, 2026 @ 12:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has restricted public access to Polymarket, a US-based platform that operates as a prediction market using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. The decision, announced on May 22, 2026, underscores the government’s firm stance against any form of speculative betting… Read More

May 27, 2026 @ 2:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Asia is set to play a pivotal role in the expansion of the global cyber insurance sector. A joint report by CyberCube, a key player in cyber risk analytics, and United Insurance Brokers (UIB), a Lloyd’s broker, underscores the region’s potential amid surging digital transformation… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 11:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Despite the ongoing regional tensions and uncertainty in the global market, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) drew strong investor demand in its latest local-currency bond sale. In a statement, the UAE’s Ministry of Finance said it raised 1.1 billion dirhams, or about $300 million, through… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 3:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Iran has initiated conversations with Oman regarding a potential collaborative arrangement to implement a payment mechanism for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies. This development highlights ongoing tensions, as it suggests that Washington and Tehran remain far from… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 11:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

A Nasdaq-listed fertility services company is making a bet on one of the internet’s more speculative frontiers: AI-powered prediction markets. NewGenIVF Group has made an initial $2 million strategic investment in K25.ai, a Singapore-based AI-native live streaming and watch-to-predict platform, as part of a Pre-A… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 11:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Global markets displayed positive momentum early this week, with Bitcoin pushing past the $77,000 threshold while a steep decline in crude oil values eased cost pressures and encouraged risk-taking. The flagship cryptocurrency hovered near $77,200 during Asian trading sessions, maintaining its position just above a… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 1:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Trading volumes for US-listed options tied to two prominent Chinese fintech firms spiked dramatically just before a major regulatory announcement from Beijing. This activity preceded a sharp downturn in their share prices, highlighting how some investors appeared to anticipate the crackdown. Futu Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:… Read More

May 24, 2026 @ 6:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

USDKG, a gold-backed stablecoin issued by a state entity in Kyrgyzstan, announced its official listing on OSL HK, the Hong Kong-licensed digital asset exchange of stablecoin payment and trading platform OSL Group. The listing allows professional investors to trade the token against Tether’s USDT through… Read More

May 24, 2026 @ 2:43 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Chinese autonomous driving company UISEE Technologies has raised about HK$870 million ($111 million) in a Hong Kong initial public offering, adding to signs of improving investor appetite for AI-linked technology listings in the city. The Beijing-based company began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange… Read More

May 24, 2026 @ 8:47 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Singapore government is taking another step to position itself as a carbon markets hub, this time partnering with the World Bank Group to launch a carbon markets program, according to an announcement. The initiative, dubbed Singapore Carbon Markets Program, aims to help countries build… Read More

May 23, 2026 @ 8:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

For Edward Robinson, deputy managing director for economic policy and chief economist at Monetary Authority of Singapore, the gains from artificial intelligence (AI) are unlikely to arrive quickly due to a mix of shocks from tariffs, energy, and geopolitics. During the 13th Asian Monetary Policy… Read More

May 22, 2026 @ 4:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Franklin Templeton and DigiFT have formed a new alliance to bring the BENJI Technology Platform and its associated tokenized offerings to accredited and institutional investors across the region. This collaboration highlights the growing momentum behind blockchain-enabled financial products and positions the organizations at the center… Read More

May 22, 2026 @ 3:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HUMAIN, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company specializing in comprehensive AI solutions, has teamed up with global professional services firm Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The alliance positions Accenture as a key strategic partner for AI reinvention and innovation, aiming to expand HUMAIN’s reach and capabilities throughout Saudi… Read More

May 22, 2026 @ 7:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Payward, the parent company of the cryptocurrency exchange and digital investment platform Kraken, has received preliminary approval for a comprehensive broker-dealer, investment, and management license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This milestone marks a significant step in digital assets platform Kraken’s strategy to… Read More

May 21, 2026 @ 8:49 am By JD Alois  |  

Bsquared Technology has lost its regulatory approval issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).  The regulator stated that Bsquared was banned from providing digital payment token services on May 14th. MAS said an on-site inspection revealed serious regulatory compliance violations. This included a claim… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

For many years, individual consumers and businesses operating in Pakistan have experienced considerable challenges when accessing basic financial services due to a lack of regulatory clarity and issues related to inadequate regulatory guidelines. However, this year has started off on a rather positive note with… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

XDC Network is now reportedly working with Animoca Brands as a strategic institutional validator. Announced recently this month, the partnership sees the Web3 investor and builder operating masternodes on the specialized network, which handles substantial volumes in trade finance and real-world asset (RWA) transactions each… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 11:05 am By JD Alois  |  

Iran has announced it intends to offer insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz using Bitcoin. Fars News Agency and Iran’s Ministry of Economy state that the system provides cryptographically verifiable insurance policies. By using Bitcoin, Iran aims to circumvent the many sanctions imposed… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong regulators and market participants have released a sector-focused transition finance guide for the technology industry, as the city seeks to give banks, investors, and issuers more practical tools for assessing climate transition plans in digital infrastructure and ICT financing. The Hong Kong Green… Read More