Asia

November 15, 2024 @ 6:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

=   A total of 11,808 deals (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity and venture financing deals) were reportedly announced in the Asia-Pacific region during January to October 2024, which was a YoY decline of “4.8% compared to the 12,406 deals announced during the same period… Read More

November 14, 2024 @ 3:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HKMA and multilateral organizations aim to enhance strategic partnership for climate investment in Asia. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority joined hands with multilateral organizations, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World… Read More

November 13, 2024 @ 4:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Visa (V: NYSE) flexible credential is going global by transforming the traditional payment card for a digital future. First in the United States, Visa Flexible Credential will reportedly roll out with the Affirm Card, a debit card that allows eligible consumers to buy now and… Read More

November 11, 2024 @ 10:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

QCP Trading Pte. Ltd. received an In-Principle Approval (IPA) for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) License from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The IPA represents a step toward “full” licensing, allowing QCP Trading to prepare to offer regulated spot trading services for digital payment… Read More

November 11, 2024 @ 7:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Funding Societies | Modalku, theunified digital finance platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia today announced signing the third credit facility* with HSBC under its ASEAN Growth Fund. The transaction, an accumulative commitment of over $100 million, includes the annual credit… Read More

November 11, 2024 @ 2:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX) is pleased to announce plans to digitize and automate the in-kind creation and redemption process for relevant exchange-traded products (ETP) in 2025 through the adoption of a “web-based platform, subject to technical readiness and regulatory approval.” This platform… Read More

November 11, 2024 @ 1:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tencent announced a partnership with Visa (NYSE: V) to introduce its palm recognition technology for digital payments in international markets. The service will first be rolled out in Singapore, where Visa cardholders from participating banks, including DBS, OCBC, and UOB, will be “part of the… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 10:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Stablecoin issuance and use is rising around the world, with the market projected to reach $3 trillion within the next five years. This, according to an update from Fintech firm Ripple. Key to this continued growth are crypto regulations that will help advance the use… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 10:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

PwC has released their research report, entitled FinTech in ASEAN 2024: A Decade of Innovation. PwC noted that during the past decade, the global FinTech landscape has evolved rapidly, transforming financial services and “driving digital inclusion worldwide.” Yet, the research report explained that considerable challenges… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 10:01 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

SentBe, a Korean global FX total solutions provider, partnered with Visa to implement Visa Direct’s card transfer service, which allows for real-time overseas payment through Visa’s global payment network. SentBe is the first in the Korean fintech industry to implement a Visa Direct card transfer… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 5:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech companies from mainland China are increasingly choosing Hong Kong as the base for their headquarters, attracted by the city’s capital accessibility and a strong talent pool. These firms are leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic position to expand their operations into ASEAN markets. KN Group, a… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 1:12 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

B2B embedded finance platform Toqio has signed an agreement with the global e-commerce company DSA. The partnership with the UK- and Hong Kong-based company is Toqio’s maiden step into logistics after establishing itself as a partner to corporate firms in the hospitality and pharmaceuticals sectors,… Read More

November 10, 2024 @ 1:04 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Thailand has the potential to become a world-class digital hub, which could offer a lot of economic opportunities for the country, Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said. During Thailand Blockchain Week 2024 at Emsphere shopping mall in Bangkok, he noted that digital technology,… Read More

November 9, 2024 @ 7:54 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global digital payment and financial services firm Ant International is collaborating with industry partners to develop the MSME Sustainability Impact Scorecard (MSME S-Card). This pioneering digital solution aims to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Asia to track their environmental and social impacts… Read More

November 8, 2024 @ 5:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Matrixport, which claims to be one of Asia’s largest “one-stop” financial services platforms, announced the integration of Fly Wing Technologies Pte Ltd’s OTC service on the Matrixport APP, enabling a better one-stop experience for users. All Matrixport-verified accounts must complete Fly Wing’s eKYC onboarding process… Read More

November 8, 2024 @ 5:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ant International, a digital payment and financial technology provider headquartered in Singapore, has been enhancing its integration of AI technologies to support and secure millions of daily cross-border transactions for merchants across 200+ markets. Yang Peng, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International said that integration… Read More

November 7, 2024 @ 5:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Jumio’s identity verification solutions helping global social media company streamline KYC, improve conversions and meet regulatory requirements Jumio, the provider of automated, AI-driven identity verification, risk signals and compliance solutions, announced its partnership with Riley Cillian to streamline eKYC for the social media platform’s video… Read More

November 7, 2024 @ 5:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Boxo, a “Super App” enabler, announced a partnership with Checkout.com, a payment solutions provider. By leveraging Checkout.com’s platform, Boxo’s clients across MENA and SEA regions will benefit from payment solutions and the ability to deliver seamless customer experiences. This translates to seamless transactions and convenience… Read More

November 6, 2024 @ 10:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Thunes, which claims to be the “Smart Superhighway” to move money around the world, announced a new collaboration with GCash, the digital wallet in the Philippines. This initiative enables GCash users to top up their wallet balances directly within the app using funds from their… Read More

November 6, 2024 @ 10:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) is launching a new Engineering Hub in Singapore, supported by Singapore Economic Development Board, in order to foster the local developer ecosystem. Coinbase noted in a recent update that it is officially introducing an Engineering Hub in Singapore to support the local developer… Read More