Asia

September 29, 2025 @ 2:48 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Republic, a global online investment platform, announced that it plans to tokenize the equity of Animoca Brands, an international Web3 enabler. Republic started its existence as a Funding Portal but has since expanded its services of online capital formation to both primary and secondary offerings…. Read More

September 29, 2025 @ 8:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the approval of using the “Visitor ID” for opening bank accounts at banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in “accordance with banks’ account opening rules.” The “Visitor ID,” issued by the Ministry of Interior, “serves as an official… Read More

September 29, 2025 @ 12:27 am By Michael Wong  |  

Kuwait’s stock exchange extended its trading hours by 30 minutes starting Sunday as the Gulf state seeks to enhance liquidity and align with global markets to attract more international investors. Boursa Kuwait now operates continuous trading from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., compared to the… Read More

September 28, 2025 @ 12:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move signaling its commitment to the burgeoning Middle East market, Airwallex, the Melbourne-headquartered global financial platform, has unveiled updates designed to enhanc its regional footprint. The announcement from Fintech Airwallex encompasses pivotal regulatory approvals, foundational infrastructure setups, and high-impact partnerships. These developments come… Read More

September 28, 2025 @ 3:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Blue Owl Capital Inc.  have announced a partnership agreement. This collab establishes a digital infrastructure platform aimed at addressing the explosive demand for compute power driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence advancements. With initial assets exceeding $3 billion,… Read More

September 28, 2025 @ 3:10 am By Michael Wong  |  

The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Chad are looking to deepen cooperation in the financial sector following a high-level bilateral meeting in Dubai aimed at enhancing institutional partnerships and expanding economic collaboration. UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed bin Hadi Al… Read More

September 27, 2025 @ 10:23 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s fintech sector attracted nearly $1.04 billion in the first half of 2025, rebounding strongly after a muted 2024, with investors pouring money into payments, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence-driven platforms, according to a KPMG report. The funding, spread across 90 deals, marked the highest level… Read More

September 27, 2025 @ 6:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

APAC firms are doubling down on compliance investments amid rising enforcement pressures. A new report from Regtech firm SteelEye underscores this trend, while ongoing debates around GDPR and MiFID II highlight the intricate balance between data retention and privacy. These developments seemingly signal a pivotal… Read More

September 27, 2025 @ 6:23 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore will evaluate fund managers appointed under its S$5 billion ($3.65 billion) Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP) over at least three years, with key performance indicators (KPIs) including investment returns, mobilising third-party capital and contributions to the city-state’s market ecosystem, a senior minister said on… Read More

September 27, 2025 @ 10:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) set out a detailed roadmap to strengthen the city’s fixed income and currency (FIC) markets, part of a broader push to reinforce its role as a global financial centre and deepen its… Read More

September 27, 2025 @ 9:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, said it will stop accepting new applications for digital bank licenses from Dec. 1, as the regulator moves to tighten oversight of the fast-growing sector and safeguard financial stability. The suspension follows the… Read More

September 26, 2025 @ 9:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) is focused on enhancing digital payments and financial services in Asia and across Europe. From forging a credit partnership to supporting growth in emerging markets and backing European fintechs, recent updates underscore PayPal’s commitment to enabling more inclusive digital financial… Read More

September 26, 2025 @ 1:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is emerging as a hub of innovation and adoption, with on-chain activity surging threefold from $81 billion in July 2022 to peaks of $244 billion by December 2024. As we move into late 2025, insights from Chainalysis reveal that this acceleration… Read More

September 25, 2025 @ 3:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Nansen, a blockchain analytics firm, has announced an Artificial Intelligence service called Nansen AI. According to a company statement, Nansen AI is the first purpose-built trading and investigative AI agent for onchain activity. Nansen says the service will enable investigations in minutes, not hours, and… Read More

September 23, 2025 @ 9:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tokyo-based Metaplanet Inc. has executed what stands as the most substantial single Bitcoin purchase by an Asian public company to date. The firm shelled out approximately $632.53 million to secure 5,419 BTC, catapulting its total reserves to an impressive 25,555 coins. Valued at around $2.91… Read More

September 23, 2025 @ 4:10 pm By Michael Wong  |  

South Korea’s tax authority has confiscated more than 140 billion won ($106 million) in virtual assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, from tax delinquents over the past four years, highlighting the government’s widening use of digital assets to enforce compliance. The National Tax Service (NTS) began… Read More

September 22, 2025 @ 6:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move to reshape digital payments across Asia, LINE NEXT—the Web3 innovation arm of the messaging platform LINE—and the Kaia blockchain ecosystem have jointly revealed Project Unify. This initiative aims to deliver a versatile superapp centered on stablecoins, specifically engineered to streamline cross-border transactions…. Read More

September 22, 2025 @ 6:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Meta has (NASDAQ:META) integrated a QR code-based payment system into the WhatsApp Business App. The announcement was made during Meta’s recent business summit in Mumbai, India, highlighting the company’s focus on enhancing digital tools for… Read More

September 22, 2025 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

ZA Bank, one of the first digital-only banks in Hong Kong, has announced that it has topped one million users. As most observers anticipate that bank branches will soon be a thing of the past, alongside gas lamps and buggy rides, ZA Bank is proving… Read More

September 22, 2025 @ 12:02 am By Michael Wong  |  

Japan’s Credit Saison has launched a new venture capital vehicle dedicated to blockchain, joining a growing number of financial institutions targeting the sector despite market volatility. The fund, branded Onigiri Capital, was set up through the company’s Singapore-based corporate venture capital subsidiary and announced last… Read More