Asia

January 29, 2021 @ 3:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

After facing increasing pressure from Chinese authorities, billionaire Jack Ma’s Fintech firm Ant Group is now focused on restructuring its business operations in order to serve as a financial holding company. The Ant Group has also been focused on positioning itself as an Internet-tech firm… Read More

January 29, 2021 @ 8:11 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  gettgo, a Thailand-based insurtech startup, announced on Friday it secured a $6.7 million investment from Muang Thai Group Holding Co. gettgo, which operates under Muang Thai Broker Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Muang Thai Group Holding Co., is on a mission to build a new… Read More

January 27, 2021 @ 11:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Malaysia-based CapBay, a peer to peer (P2P) supply chain financing platform, has reportedly acquired $20 million in capital via its Series A round. CapBay’s investment round saw contributions from existing investor KK Fund, a Singapore-headquartered VC firm that makes investments in startups or early-stage initiatives… Read More

January 27, 2021 @ 10:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Thailand-based Omise, a digital payments platform, has reportedly chosen the Netcetera 3-D Secure Server in order to secure its transactions in the APAC region. The update is expected to go live this month. Netcetera, a Switzerland-based software firm providing virtual payment solutions, offers certified products… Read More

January 27, 2021 @ 10:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CIMB Bank Berhad and CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad have introduced CIMB CNY Go Digital for SMEs. This new product should help Asian businesses that are still facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including those companies that are struggling to offer certain services because of… Read More

January 27, 2021 @ 6:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The LuLu Exchange in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed that they’re teaming up with American Fintech Ripple (which is the subject of a major enforcement action from the US SEC) and Federal Bank in order to enhance real-time payments capabilities from the UAE… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 11:10 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) recently announced it has granted a banking license to Rakuten International Commercial. The FSC reported that Rakuten International Commercial Bank (RICB) is the first internet-only bank to obtain a banking license in Taiwan. The FSC further revealed that RICB… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 10:35 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Diginex Limited, a digital assets financial services company, announced on Monday it has formed a new partnership with GSR Markets (GSR), a global market maker for cryptocurrency spot and crypto derivative markets. According to Diginex, GSR will become a shareholder in Diginex and one of the… Read More

January 26, 2021 @ 9:54 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  FinVolution Group, a China-based fintech that connects underserved individual borrowers with financial institutions, announced on Tuesday its subsidiary has received the Capital Markets Services (CMS) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to conduct regulated activities in dealing in capital markets products in Singapore. Finvolution reported… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 11:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong might lead China’s financial integration efforts with other countries and could also help promote the adoption of the digital yuan, according to government officials. But regardless of what Hong Kong actually does to fulfill its role, the special administrative region of the People’s… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 10:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Temasek have teamed up to launch a joint venture that aims to enhance digital asset infrastructure through the use of blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT). SGX’s management stated that the joint project aims to be the Asia Pacific or APAC… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 9:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Southeast Asia based StashAway, a digital wealth management firm focused on retail and accredited investors, recently revealed that it’s now managing over $1 billion in assets since launching operations back in 2017. StashAway’s management confirmed that they were able to generate these solid returns even… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 12:30 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

  Southwestern Asian banking group DBS has reportedly launched a digitalized audit confirmation solution for both corporate and SME customers. According to various reports, the solution cuts down on the processing time for audit confirmation requests from compared seven-day industry norm to just under 24… Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 10:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The blockchain and digital assets space is well-positioned for even more growth and adoption in 2021 by mainstream consumers and institutions. The COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically accelerated the shift towards all-digital platforms and services because it’s no longer considered safe to visit physical business locations…. Read More

January 25, 2021 @ 8:36 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Lendahand, a Netherlands-based for-profit crowdfunding platform for impact investing, announced over the weekend that it has agreed to provide Singapore-based Funding Societies with an up to €5 million debt facility to invest in underserved SMEs, predominantly in Indonesia, but also including Singapore and Malaysia. Lendahand reported… Read More

January 24, 2021 @ 10:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard has partnered with UAE-headquartered PSP Network International in order to introduce a digital platform with the goal of promoting the adoption of virtual payments across the MENA region. With this new digital platform going live this month, Network International plans to help its customers… Read More

January 24, 2021 @ 8:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

GBG, a global identity data intelligence provider for businesses, has reportedly launched a dedicated Intelligence Center. The Center is meant for organizations to better or more accurately validate, verify and assess user profiles, behaviors, and the intent of individuals and entities across branch, web, mobile,… Read More

January 24, 2021 @ 8:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

TNG Digital, the digital wallet provider that was launched via a joint initiative between CIMB Bank and China’s Ant Financial (now Ant Group), is reportedly planning to secure $150 million in capital according to a recent report from Reuters. The Malaysian digital wallet operator, owned… Read More

January 24, 2021 @ 7:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-based iSTOX, a blockchain-powered digitized securities platform, has finalized a $50 million Series A funding round with participation from two state-backed investors based in Japan. As noted by the company’s management: “iSTOX is a future-ready capital markets platform set to usher in a new era… Read More

January 24, 2021 @ 4:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Malaysia-based Split, a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform, recently revealed that it had handled RM 10 million (appr. $2.47 million) in total transactions for local businesses within months. Split allows merchants to provide up to 3 interest-free installments to their clients, who are able… Read More