Asia

May 5, 2025 @ 4:03 am By Michael Wong  |  

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Singapore-based Trigger Asset Management have launched a strategic partnership to mobilize capital and expand support for startups and businesses aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative, named “Origin,” is led by UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab)… Read More

May 4, 2025 @ 10:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto exchange Kraken recently uncovered a sophisticated attempt by a North Korean hacker to infiltrate its operations through a seemingly innocuous job application. The incident, detailed by Kraken on May 1, 2025, highlights the evolving tactics of state-sponsored cyber threats targeting the crypto industry, with… Read More

May 4, 2025 @ 9:33 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Indonesia’s antitrust regulator has launched preliminary tribunal proceedings against 97 online lending startups over suspected cartel practices involving daily interest rate caps, Indonesian news site Katadata reported. The Indonesia Competition Commission (KPPU) said the investigation revealed indications of a coordinated agreement among peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders… Read More

May 4, 2025 @ 8:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Global Fintech Adyen (ADYEN:AMS) has recently announced an expanded partnership with Vietnam Airlines and the release of its Q1 2025 business update. Recently, Adyen revealed an enhanced collaboration with Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam’s flag carrier and a member of the Skyteam Alliance. This partnership, which began… Read More

May 3, 2025 @ 11:03 am By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently connected with Alice Li, the Head of North America of Foresight Ventures, a crypto VC that bridges East and West. With a research-driven approach and offices in the US and Singapore, they claim to be a key player focused on crypto investment and incubation. During our… Read More

May 3, 2025 @ 10:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam will begin a two-year regulatory sandbox for selected fintech services, including peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, credit scoring, and open banking data sharing, starting July 1, under a government decree issued earlier this week. Decree 94, released on April 29, establishes a controlled testing environment for… Read More

May 2, 2025 @ 4:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Swiss-based banking technology provider Temenos (SIX: TEMN) initiated a major workforce reduction, eliminating several hundred positions across its offices in India. This move is part of a broader strategic realignment aimed at optimizing the company’s global operations and enhancing its focus on high-growth markets. The… Read More

May 1, 2025 @ 2:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) financial landscape in 2025 is poised for transformative shifts, driven by evolving regulatory frameworks and the rapid adoption of blockchain-based digital currencies. Citigroup’s recent reports offer critical insights into these trends, highlighting the interplay between regulatory developments and technological breakthroughs. As financial… Read More

April 30, 2025 @ 9:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant development for India’s startup ecosystem, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly detained Puneet Singh Jaggi, co-founder of BluSmart, from a Delhi hotel on April 25, 2025. The detention is said to be linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Gensol… Read More

April 29, 2025 @ 1:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Circle Internet Group, Inc., a global financial technology company and stablecoin market participant, announced it has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM to operate as a money services provider. This IPA marks a significant step towards Circle securing… Read More

April 28, 2025 @ 6:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Thunes, the so-called “Smart Superhighway” to move money around the world, is proud to announce the raise of its $150 million Series D at a valuation increase over its last round. Thunes welcomes Apis Partners and Vitruvian Partners, two private equity firms, both globally recognized… Read More

April 28, 2025 @ 6:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Kaspersky’s GReAT team has uncovered a new Lazarus campaign, combining a watering hole attack with the “exploitation of vulnerabilities in third-party software to target organizations in South Korea.” During the research, company experts have also “discovered a zero-day vulnerability in the widely used South Korean… Read More

April 28, 2025 @ 7:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BitGo, the infrastructure provider of digital asset solutions, is pleased to announce that its Dubai subsidiary, BitGo Custody MENA FZE, has received a Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP) operating license to provide Virtual Asset Custody Services and Staking, from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)…. Read More

April 27, 2025 @ 5:40 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Ant Bank (Hong Kong), the digital banking arm of Ant International, has received a $100 million capital infusion from its parent company as it seeks to scale up its services and broaden its role in Hong Kong’s digital financial ecosystem. The funding, according to an… Read More

April 27, 2025 @ 5:38 pm By Michael Wong  |  

iMENA Group, a regional operator of digital platforms in the Middle East and North Africa, has raised $135 million in the first tranche of its pre-IPO funding round, backed by Sanabil Investments, FJ Labs, and several Saudi investors, including Saygin Yalcin, founder of SellAnyCar. The… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 4:45 am By Michael Wong  |  

Altruist, a U.S.-based custodian for registered investment advisors, announced that it raised $152 million in a Series F funding round led by Singapore sovereign investor GIC. The round also drew participation from Salesforce Ventures, Geodesic Capital, Baillie Gifford, Carson Family Office, ICONIQ Growth and other… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 4:37 am By Michael Wong  |  

LenderLink Philippines, a fintech startup building the Philippines’ first high-tech, real-time credit bureau, raised $1.25 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by venture firms Iterative and Kaya Founders, the company said. The pre-seed round, the startup’s first external raise since its founding last… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 4:34 am By Michael Wong  |  

LendMN, Mongolia’s first fully digital lending Fintech and a unit of AND Global, said it had raised $20 million in debt financing from Lendable to scale technology-driven financial services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. The facility marks the largest sum… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 4:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

ADGM, the international financial center of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, announces the launch of the Virtual Sell and Purchase, the real estate service, which allows multiple steps within property transactions to be “completed virtually by buyers, sellers, and associated banks.” ADGM’s new service streamlines… Read More

April 25, 2025 @ 4:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

World, the human-centered financial and identity network, is reportedly a global network of 12,185,058 “real humans.” According to a blog post by World, more than 1500 Orbs “currently live in the field to verify unique humanness across 23 countries.” As with any network, its developers… Read More