Asia

April 30, 2021 @ 11:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced a new grant program targeting Regulatory Technology or Regtech that is said to be an enhancement of the Digital Acceleration Grant (DAG) scheme to accelerate technology adoption.  In a public statement, MAS said it will commit S$42… Read More

April 30, 2021 @ 7:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK-based MarketFinance, one of the world’s largest peer-to-peer (P2P) invoice finance platforms, notes in a blog post that Brexit and the COVID-19 outbreak have had “dramatic effects on the price of shipping.” MarketFinance adds that if your business uses suppliers that are based in other… Read More

April 29, 2021 @ 10:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Zipmex, a Singapore-based digital asset exchange that operates in multiple countries, says it has processed Asia’s first purchase of a Lamborghini using cryptocurrency. According to a release, Jo Chirawat used Zipmex’s mobile app to put a downpayment in Bitcoin on a 2021 Huracán EVO RWD… Read More

April 27, 2021 @ 11:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF) has reportedly made a co-investment of RM165 million (appr. $40.27 million) in 5,349 equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer financing (P2P) initiatives, which aims to benefit 1,197 Malaysian MSMEs by the end of last year. Since its October 2019 launch, these Malaysia-based… Read More

April 27, 2021 @ 10:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

Mortgage Master, a mortgage brokering platform, has raised SG$928,000 in a Pre-Series A funding round, according to the company. The investment was led by Woon Young Jeong, along with existing investors, including Bala Swaminathan, former President of Westpac International and Founder of S Cube Capital,… Read More

April 27, 2021 @ 8:42 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  Global accelerator program Plug and Play announced on Tuesday the launch of its new office in Seoul, Korea. Plug and Play reported its Korea division will primarily focus on corporate innovation in the areas of Financial Services (Fintech, Insurtech, and Health) and Smart Cities (Mobility &… Read More

April 27, 2021 @ 1:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

MyMy revealed on Monday (April 26, 2021) that it has obtained conditional approval for a large scheme E-money license from Bank Negara Malaysia, the nation’s central bank. The Fintech firm is now planning to launch its digital wallet services in the coming year. Until all… Read More

April 27, 2021 @ 12:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Southeast Asia based StashAway, a digital wealth manager, is reportedly raising $25 million as part of its Series D funding round that is being led by VC firm Sequoia Capital India. StashAway’s current investors, Eight Roads Ventures, the international investment company supported by Fidelity International… Read More

April 26, 2021 @ 11:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mox Bank, the digital lending platform that’s backed by Standard Chartered, is reportedly planning to double its client base in 2021. Mox Bank has already managed to surpass 100,000 account holders within 8 months since its launch. This, according to company CEO Deniz Guven. As… Read More

April 26, 2021 @ 11:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Uppsala Security, a provider of tools for Crypto AML, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, and Cybersecurity revealed on Monday (April 26, 2021) that with assistance from Bithumb, one of South Korea’s leading digital asset exchanges, it has helped a victim to “recover approximately 20 million KRW”… Read More

April 25, 2021 @ 2:17 pm By Xu Gao  |  

Fintech Companies Will Face Listing Restrictions on the SSE STAR Market  On April 16th, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) published the revised edition of “STAR Market Property Evaluation Guidelines”. According to the amendments, Fintech companies will be classified as “restricted” category when it applies… Read More

April 24, 2021 @ 9:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Saudi Arabia-based Tamara, a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service provider, recently confirmed that it finalized a $110 million Series A funding round led by Checkout.com. The funds raised will be used by Tamara to scale its professional team, expand into new markets in the… Read More

April 24, 2021 @ 7:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

London-based Currencycloud, an established provider of B2B embedded cross-border solutions, recently revealed that it has launched an Asia Pacific (APAC) headquarters in Singapore. Currencycloud‘s new business office, based in Raffles Quay, will act as a hub to help the UK-headquartered Fintech with expanding operations across… Read More

April 23, 2021 @ 10:01 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Klaytn, a global public blockchain platform developed by Ground X, the blockchain affiliate of the leading South Korean Internet company, Kakao, announced on Thursday it has teamed up with ConsenSys, an Ethereum software company, to advance its platform’s integrated digital currency efforts. Klaytn reported through… Read More

April 23, 2021 @ 6:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Philippines-based Uploan, an established provider of salary-linked financial services, has reportedly acquired a senior secured loan of $15 million from UK’s Lendable, a provider of debt to Fintech firms in emerging or developing markets. The long-term facility should help Uploan with expanding its existing loan… Read More

April 23, 2021 @ 4:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

DBS Bank and Contour have expanded their digital trade offerings to four new markets in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. As mentioned in a release, digital letter of credit capabilities will be offered in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore starting this month. The announcement also… Read More

April 22, 2021 @ 10:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Huobi Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huobi Technology Holdings Limited, has introduced virtual asset-related funds for professional investors. The new product offering includes three digital asset funds and a private equity fund for blockchain mining-related businesses, according to a release shared… Read More

April 21, 2021 @ 11:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ingatica, an Insurtech that offers a digital self-service and automation solutions for insurers, has closed on a USD $7 million pre-series A funding. The investment was led by Lingfeng Capital, with participation from SOSV Investment Funds, Australia-based Artesian, HK-Based AFG Partners Fund, as well as… Read More

April 21, 2021 @ 11:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Digital bank Revolut is expanding into India, according to multiple reports. India, with a population of over 1.3 billion, assets of public sector banks are around Rs. 107.83 lakh crore or USD $ 1.52 trillion as of 2020, according to a recent report. In India,… Read More

April 19, 2021 @ 11:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Board of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center located in Abu Dhabi, has reportedly approved the formation of the ADGM Authority. ADGM Authority is expected to be led by Mark Nicholas Cutis, who will be serving as the organization’s Chief Executive…. Read More