Asia

July 10, 2025 @ 6:48 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Sumsub joined hands with DKM ECO, a data services provider in the Asia-Pacific region, to stage an APAC Roadshow “Comply to fortify 2.0” in Hong Kong to share with businesses on how innovative solutions can address their most pressing compliance challenges. This initiative forms part… Read More

July 10, 2025 @ 3:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Pay10, a global Alternative Payment Method (APM) platform, has been granted Ancillary Service Provider – Payment Service Provider License by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). This regulatory approval represents a strategic milestone in Pay10’s global expansion and “reinforces its commitment to delivering real-time, secure,… Read More

July 9, 2025 @ 6:09 am By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) has published a report on Open Banking in APAC countries. The research covers 16 different jurisdictions and the status of Open Banking development across the region. Open Banking, also known as Open Finance, refers to the ability to share data… Read More

July 9, 2025 @ 2:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bazaar Technologies Pvt., which is Pakistan’s most well-funded startup, is on the cusp of achieving profitability in the coming quarters. This, according to a report from Bloomberg. This milestone follows a pivotal fintech acquisition that has bolstered the five-year-old company’s ambitions to dominate Pakistan’s e-commerce… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 9:48 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s efforts to position itself as a regional hub for Fintech face a critical stumbling block, as most Fintech firms say they cannot obtain the bank data needed to build services for small businesses, a new industry report has shown. Fintech Nation, a public-benefit corporation… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 8:53 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan’s cabinet has cleared the creation of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), setting the stage for a formal licensing and supervisory regime for digital-asset businesses in a country that already ranks among the world’s busiest crypto markets. A cabinet communiqué said PVARA will… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 5:04 am By Michael Wong  |  

Southeast Asia’s financial technology (Fintech) sector raised $776 million in the first half of 2025, up 31% from the $593 million recorded in the second half of 2024, according to Tracxn’s SEA FinTech Semi Annual Funding Report. While overall funding fell 22% compared to $1… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 1:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announces a key senior leadership appointment in Japan, as the firm continues to expand its footprint in the market and strengthen its commitment to Japan. Muneya Taniguchi will join as Vice Chairman of Japan and Executive Advisor to lead the firm’s expansion, focusing… Read More

July 7, 2025 @ 10:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is drafting a new circular aimed at mitigating risks from online gambling for users of digital financial platforms, as part of its broader financial consumer protection and wellness agenda. The proposed circular would apply to BSP-supervised institutions (BSIs), including… Read More

July 7, 2025 @ 5:05 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with global cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com to develop a digital investment environment for virtual real estate assets, according to an announcement. The deal is part of the emirate’s ongoing strategy to accelerate digital transformation and… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 10:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank has imposed S$27.45 million ($20.3 million) in fines on nine financial institutions after concluding a sweeping investigation into anti-money laundering (AML) lapses tied to a major money laundering case uncovered in August 2023. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it had… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 8:35 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia’s central bank launched its flagship Karnival Celik Kewangan (Financial Literacy Carnival) in Tawau on Saturday, as part of a broader push to strengthen financial resilience among underbanked communities. The event was officiated with opening remarks by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Deputy Governor Adnan Zaylani… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 8:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital, continues to solidify its position as a hub for innovation, transparency, and accessibility in financial and legal services. Two recent developments underscore ADGM’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and progressive ecosystem: the… Read More

July 5, 2025 @ 2:05 am By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar is positioning itself as a regional hub for open banking and Islamic Fintech, supported by robust regulatory frameworks, advanced API infrastructure, and strategic partnerships, according to the latest Islamic Finance Report by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). The report outlines how Doha is building… Read More

July 4, 2025 @ 10:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In an evolving global environment, the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) recent updates have examined digital transformation trends that are reshaping economies worldwide. The 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) 2025, held in Tianjin, China, from June 24-26, and related discussions in Europe highlight… Read More

July 4, 2025 @ 9:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a fast-evolving financial landscape, access to global markets remains a significant challenge for investors in the Middle East, according to an update from Alpaca. Traditional brokerage systems, bogged down by manual processes and lengthy onboarding timelines, have often limited the ability of everyday investors… Read More

July 4, 2025 @ 12:51 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank will strengthen liquidity risk management rules and overhaul its data collection regime for fund managers, as it seeks to bolster resilience in the country’s asset management sector amid heightened global economic uncertainty. In a keynote speech at the Investment Management Association of… Read More

July 3, 2025 @ 10:32 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asia-Pacific crowdfunding market is projected to surge nearly fourfold to $1.93 billion by 2033 from $496.77 million in 2024, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 16.33%, according to a new industry report published by ResearchAndMarkets. The report incorporates adjacent sectors rewards (e-commerce)… Read More

July 3, 2025 @ 9:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Oman Investment Authority (OIA) ended 2024 with $53 billion in assets under management and a net profit of $4.12 billion, enabling a $2.1 billion transfer to the state budget and reinforcing its fiscal importance, according to an announcement. Ranked among the top ten global sovereign… Read More

July 3, 2025 @ 8:12 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam-based artificial intelligence startup AI Hay has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Southeast Asia-focused venture capital firm Argor Capital, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The latest round, which also drew participation from existing investors Square Peg,… Read More