Asia

January 9, 2020 @ 12:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crude oil production in Saudi Arabia slowed down considerably last year, from 10,643 BBL/D/1K in December 2018 to only 9,890 BBL/D/1K in November 2019. Steady and continuous drops in crude oil production may be attributed to several different factors, such as the attendant impact on… Read More

January 9, 2020 @ 7:34 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com announced on Thursday it has appointed Mariana Gospodinova as its new European general manager. Crypto.com reported that Gospodinova joins its team from Binance, where she headed the operations in Europe and looked after the launch of the crypto to fiat… Read More

January 9, 2020 @ 5:59 am By Cali Haan  |  

China’s Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), which oversees the country’s financial markets, has, “published a guideline saying it would promote the conversion of household savings into long-term capital market fund,” South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports. The CBIRC did not say how it will… Read More

January 9, 2020 @ 12:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Indian government recently confirmed that online transactions performed using RuPay credit cards or UPI QR codes won’t face the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). Now, the nation’s leading Fintech firm Paytm has introduced a consolidated QR payment for local retailers. The “All-in-One” QR will allow… Read More

January 8, 2020 @ 9:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

eBaoTech, an established multinational online insurance solution provider based in Shanghai, and Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) have revealed that they will be working cooperatively to offer a robust, one-stop insurance middle office platform, in order to promote digitalization across the insurance industry. The collaboration… Read More

January 8, 2020 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Turkey’s Capital Markets Board is reportedly planning to regulate cryptocurrency-related transactions. The Capital Markets Board of Turkey (CMB), the regulatory agency that oversees the nation’s financial securities markets, is in the process of formulating guidelines to examine, audit, and regulate the local digital asset markets,… Read More

January 7, 2020 @ 8:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The ongoing race and competition between local Fintech firms for acquiring a digital banking license in Malaysia continues to intensify, particularly after Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the nation’s central bank, revealed additional details regarding the licensing process. BNM’s Exposure Draft on Licensing Framework for Digital… Read More

January 7, 2020 @ 9:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK-headquartered Fintech firm TransferWise revealed on January 6 that it has introduced a new service that allows Singapore-based clients to receive money internationally via peer-to-peer (P2P) instant payment service provider, PayNow. Individuals based in Singapore will now be able to receive funds from overseas locations… Read More

January 7, 2020 @ 7:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has seen 21 different entities apply for a digital-only bank license. MAS had set a deadline for applications of December 31, 2019. MAS is offering just 5 different digital bank licenses. These licenses include two digital full bank (DFB)… Read More

January 6, 2020 @ 11:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

AngelHub says it continues to launch new securities offerings after the successful funding of its first two issuers. AngelHub is the only investment crowdfunding platform to receive regulatory approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong. Last spring, AngelHub was approved for… Read More

January 6, 2020 @ 8:58 am By Omar Faridi  |  

India-based Kredent InfoEdge, a Fintech and education startup, is reportedly planning to raise $8 million within the next two years, in order to finance its growth and development by leveraging the latest technology. Kredent InfoEdge, which started its journey as a platform that offered education-focused… Read More

January 6, 2020 @ 8:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) will reportedly be joining a consortium that’s led by Ron Sim‘s V3 Group (a brand creator and developer and an Asian luxury group in the lifestyle and wellness markets) and EZ-Link, a stored-card operator that is planning to acquire a… Read More

January 5, 2020 @ 6:59 am By Xu Gao  |  

Ant Financial Applies for Singapore Digital Banking License On January 2nd, Ant Financial confirmed that it had applied a digital wholesale banking license in Singapore as an effort to promote the development of local digital banking and global financial inclusion. As early as November 19th… Read More

January 4, 2020 @ 8:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) has onboarded six digital banks as corporate members according to a note published by the association. The HKIB is a non-profit organization that offers training and certification programs to Hong Kong-based financial institutions. The virtual banks that have… Read More

January 2, 2020 @ 9:15 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

South Korea officials are reportedly causing some confusion with the latest drafted legislation that will tax individual crypto profits. According to Cointelegraph, South Korea’s officials stated that under current law, the government cannot impose income taxes on individual profits that are from cryptocurrency transactions. South… Read More

January 2, 2020 @ 4:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korea’s government aims to continue to support the development of its Fintech industry. The nation’s authorities have launched regulatory sandboxes and are assisting internet-based banks in establishing their operations. However, a recent survey reveals that South Korea still needs to make significant improvements in… Read More

January 2, 2020 @ 8:55 am By Cali Haan  |  

Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum programmer accused of advising North Korea on how to using cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions, has been released on $1 million bail in New York. The case is being covered in-person by the Inner City Press: “Upshot: for Virgil Griffith, SDNY Judge Broderick… Read More

January 2, 2020 @ 8:19 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Hong Kong-based CoinEx Chain Foundation announced on Thursday the launch of its new support program. According to the foundation, the program was designed to support more institutions and individuals to participate in the creation of CoinEx Chain’s ecosystem. “Every quarter, the Foundation will commit up… Read More

January 2, 2020 @ 7:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A consortium, which includes Fintech firm Razer and the founders of Sheng Siong, has reportedly filed an application for obtaining a digital full-bank license in Singapore. The application notes that the consortium wants to mainly focus on the “underserved youth and millennials segment.” Insurance business… Read More

January 2, 2020 @ 12:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Private lending institution PT Bank Yudha Bhakti Tbk (BYB) has revealed that its partnership with Fintech solution provider Akulaku has enhanced the bank’s digital transformation strategy by delivering several key outcomes or results. The two organizations have developed BYB’s Hands-on Application by Yudha Bhakti (HAY)… Read More