Asia

January 5, 2026 @ 8:45 am By Michael Wong  |  

The United Arab Emirates has issued two federal decree laws revamping the governance of its capital markets, strengthening the independence and powers of the country’s securities regulator as the Gulf state seeks to bolster investor confidence and align its financial framework with global standards. The… Read More

January 4, 2026 @ 2:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As the world steps into 2026, the landscape of digital payments continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changes in consumer behavior. From central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) gaining new features to concerns over cybersecurity and cash accessibility, several trends are poised… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:25 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Knight Fintech, an Indian provider of banking and digital lending infrastructure, has raised $23.6 million in a Series A funding round led by Accel, the company said. The round also saw participation from IIFL and Rocket Capital, along with existing investors Prime Venture Partners, 3one4… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 4:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant policy shift for one of the world’s most isolated countries, Turkmenistan has reportedly begun regulating cryptocurrency activities as a new framework for virtual assets took effect on January 1, 2026. The legislation permits licensed mining and trading of digital currencies, marking a… Read More

December 31, 2025 @ 1:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the evolving ecosystem of digital finance, a Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) executive has raised alarms about potential U.S. policy missteps that might undermine America’s position in global monetary innovation. Faryar Shirzad, the cryptocurrency exchange’s chief policy officer, highlighted how limiting incentives on American stablecoins could inadvertently… Read More

December 30, 2025 @ 5:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

Meta (NASDAQ:META) has acquired artificial intelligence firm Manus. The Singapore-based firm is developing autonomous AI agents, and the deal has been valued at between $2 to $3 billion. Manus’s tech is said to be able to execute complex tasks such as booking flights and conducting… Read More

December 30, 2025 @ 5:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong’s digital banking service provider, Mox Bank, has solidified its position as a fintech powerhouse in 2025, now serving 750,000 customers—representing an impressive 12% of the city’s bankable population. As shared by CEO Barbaros Uygun, the year has been defined by robust expansion across… Read More

December 30, 2025 @ 5:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korea’s efforts to establish a proper framework for digital assets have encountered significant delays as of late, with the proposed Digital Asset Basic Act now postponed until 2026. The recent holdup reportedly stems primarily from ongoing disagreements among the country’s various regulatory authorities regarding… Read More

December 30, 2025 @ 5:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) has announced its acquisition of Manus AI, a Singapore-headquartered startup specializing in autonomous artificial intelligence agents. The move aims to enhance Meta’s capabilities in deploying versatile AI tools across its ecosystem of consumer apps and enterprise solutions. Manus AI, known for its… Read More

December 29, 2025 @ 10:20 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia drew 54.13 billion ringgit ($13.3 billion) in approved Malaysia Digital (MD) investments in the third quarter of 2025, projects expected to generate 21,815 high-value jobs across 402 digital companies, according to the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). MDEC said the investment pipeline underscored sustained… Read More

December 29, 2025 @ 6:54 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

SoftBank Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG), a global alternative asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure, including data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure, for a total enterprise value of approximately $4 billion. SoftBank Group… Read More

December 29, 2025 @ 2:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Samar Sen, SVP, Head of APAC at digital assets firm Talos, has provided an APAC year-end note. Sen has shared his reflections on what he considers to be  an impactful 2025 in the Asia-Pacific region for Talos. Sen pointed out that it has been just… Read More

December 29, 2025 @ 11:27 am By Michael Wong  |  

Mirae Asset Group is in talks to acquire Korbit, South Korea’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency exchange, in a move that would mark a rare push by a mainstream financial group into the country’s tightly regulated digital-asset market, according to people familiar with the matter. The discussions are… Read More

December 29, 2025 @ 8:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), has unveiled a comprehensive action plan to elevate its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan (e-CNY). Effective January 1, 2026, this initiative will introduce an upgraded governance framework, operational mechanisms, and supporting infrastructure, marking… Read More

December 28, 2025 @ 10:43 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong regulators launched an intellectual property (IP) financing sandbox aimed at helping banks and companies test how patents, trademarks and copyrights can be used as collateral, as the city looks to widen funding options for innovation-led businesses. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, working with… Read More

December 28, 2025 @ 9:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Thailand’s aggregate card payments market is now being projected to grow by 2.7% in 2025 to reach THB2.3 trillion (appr. $65.4 billion), supported by the ongoing expansion of digital payment acceptance infrastructure, government-led financial inclusion initiatives, and the growing adoption of contactless payments, according to… Read More

December 28, 2025 @ 11:58 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant new development in the fight against growing incidents of cybercrime, Indian authorities have now apprehended a former customer support representative linked to Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN). The arrest reportedly took place in Hyderabad and stems from a major security incident at the exchange that was… Read More

December 28, 2025 @ 11:46 am By Michael Wong  |  

CIMB Group is laying the groundwork to issue tokenised bonds and Islamic sukuk in Malaysia, positioning itself early as regulators move to modernise capital markets through the use of distributed-ledger technology. The bank said it will develop tokenised financial services covering assets, settlement and payment… Read More

December 27, 2025 @ 5:22 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong’s card payment market is expected to expand further in 2025, even as it remains one of Asia’s more mature payments landscapes, with total card spending forecast to rise 4.5% to HK$1.32 trillion ($168.4 billion), according to data and analytics firm GlobalData. The forecast… Read More

December 27, 2025 @ 10:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

India’s venture capital market strengthened its global standing in 2025, recording year-on-year double-digit growth in both deal volumes and values during January-November despite persistent volatility across major economies. The divergence from declining trends in other key markets signals rising investor conviction in India’s startup fundamentals,… Read More