Asia

June 18, 2022 @ 3:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Minna Bank, Ltd., Japan’s “first” digital bank, has recorded more than 1 million downloads of its mobile banking app and over 400,000 accounts have been “opened in its first year of commercial operations since May 28, 2021.” With the first “full” Cloud core banking system,… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 6:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ant Group recently announced the launch of Alipay+ Unified Payment. This product upgrade “provides a unified, scalable technical solution to help online and brick-and-mortar merchants collect money through all digital payment methods supported by Alipay+ in a more convenient and effective way.” Alipay+ offers “a… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 3:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

Huobi Group, an operator of a crypto exchange, says it has received regulatory approval in two new jurisdictions: Dubai and New Zealand. In Dubai, Huobi obtained a DIFC Innovation License. In New Zealand, Huobi has been added to the Financial Services Provider Register. Huobi said these… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 9:51 am By JD Alois  |  

Babel Finance, a Hong Kong-based crypto firm that recently raised $80 million at a $2 billion valuation, has halted all withdrawals and redemptions according to a company statement. Posted on the website, Babel Finance explains: “Recently, the market has fluctuated violently, and some institutions in… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 6:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Episode Six, a global payment and banking infrastructure provider, announced a new relationship with Galaxy FinX, Vietnam’s Fintech builder that is “re-shaping” the future of money and banking in the country. The deal “represents two firsts for Episode Six: a partnership in Vietnam as well… Read More

June 16, 2022 @ 7:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Flip, Indonesia’s consumer payments platform, announced a second close of a Series B funding round “led by Tencent, with participation from Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.) and existing investor Insight Partners.” A number of experienced operators “participated meaningfully in this extension round, including Guillaume Pousaz,… Read More

June 16, 2022 @ 7:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

Rich Glory Coin, a digital security being issued to raise capital and expand the Dagang Oil Field in the Kongnan Block, is available on Securitize for accredited and institutional investors. The tokenized debt is seeking up to USD$ 25 million with a three-year term, paying… Read More

June 15, 2022 @ 10:04 am By JD Alois  |  

Three Arrows Capital, Singapore/Dubai-based hedge fund that is invested in multiple blockchain firms, is fending off rumors of a possible liquidation event, according to a report by Reuters. In an opaque tweet, founder Zhu Su, said they are “in the process of communicating with relevant… Read More

June 15, 2022 @ 7:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently issued revised Guidelines on Business Continuity Management (BCM) for financial institutions, to help them strengthen their resilience “against service disruptions arising from IT outages, pandemic outbreaks, cyber-attacks and physical threats.” The revisions take into account learnings “from the… Read More

June 15, 2022 @ 1:42 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Wirex, a crypto payments firm, has made their recently launched non-custodial wallet more accessible to APAC users “after releasing a new payment method.” The addition of instant bank transfers and local payment systems for Indonesian and Malaysia customers “to purchase crypto on the app will… Read More

June 15, 2022 @ 12:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Amber Group, a global digital asset platform, announced its acquisition of Celera Markets Limited, a “fully” licensed financial group by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. The acquisition represents “a significant milestone for Amber Group, as it continues to strengthen its product… Read More

June 13, 2022 @ 10:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ComfortDelGro Taxi and Alipay+ recently announced a partnership that enables mobile payments from Malaysia and South Korea, “namely the Touch ‘n Go eWallet and Kakao Pay, to be accepted as cashless payment options in all its Comfort and CityCab taxis.” Users of these mobile wallets… Read More

June 13, 2022 @ 10:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, recently announced the launch of a $100 million technology-focused venture capital fund with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) of Jordan, in the presence of His Excellency the Prime Minister of Jordan, Bisher Al Khasawneh…. Read More

June 13, 2022 @ 9:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

NymCard, the MENA-based Banking as-a-Service (BaaS) provider and card issuer, has raised $22.5 million in its latest funding round. This will help NymCard “enable MENA-based Fintechs with the infrastructure required from BIN Sponsorship, Card Issuing, Program Management, Compliance, FX, and Treasury, leverage its over 150+… Read More

June 10, 2022 @ 9:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Razer Fintech, the financial technology arm of Razer, the global lifestyle brand for gamers, recently announced the acquisition of PT E2Pay Global Utama, which claims to be one of the leading B2B2C digital payment facilitators and e-money players in Indonesia. Razer Fintech is an O2O… Read More

June 10, 2022 @ 8:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

YAS MicroInsurance (YAS) and Amodo have partnered to deliver insurance on-chain, according to a company statement. YAS is an Asia-Pacific Insurtech that is combining blockchain technology and insurance. Amodo is a telematics company providing on-demand insurance that is hyper-localized and usage-based insurance. The two firms… Read More

June 10, 2022 @ 6:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ICICI Bank recently announced that it has teamed up with ZestMoney, a digital EMI/ pay-later platform, in order to expand its ‘Cardless EMI’ facility “for purchases at retail and e-commerce platforms.” The partnership enhances affordability for millions of customers of the Bank who can use… Read More

June 10, 2022 @ 3:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

Serai, an HSBC-founded venture based in Hong Kong that offered a B2B supply-chain platform, has shut down. The move was foreshadowed in an executive change last month when Vivek Ramachandran, formerly CEO of Seria, was appointed as Head of Global Trade and Receivables Finance (GTRF)… Read More

June 10, 2022 @ 10:57 am By JD Alois  |  

Huobi Global has announced the creation of Ivy Blocks, a subsidiary that will invest in early-stage blockchain ventures in the DeFi and Web3 space. Huobi said in a corporate statement that its “multi-billion dollar war chest” will allow Ivy Blocks to gain access to unique… Read More

June 9, 2022 @ 11:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The AXIAN Group recently revealed that it has joined Disruptech Egypt Fund I, which is a venture capital fund focused on supporting technology-enabled firms and Fintech startups in Egypt. Disruptech Egypt Fund I is a VC fund dedicated to further developing Egypt’s financial-technologies sector by… Read More