Asia

December 29, 2024 @ 8:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Majd Saudi Payments” to provide E-wallet solutions. With Majd Saudi Payments, there are now “26 licensed companies offering payment services” in Saudi Arabia. This decision reflects SAMA’s goal to support the payments sector, increase the efficiency of financial transactions,… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 6:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

PDX Global, a digital banking and payments developer for the crypto economy, announced a successful round of tests of PDX Beam, the end-to-end payment transaction process and seamless crypto-to-cash payments platform for merchants and consumers. PDX has reportedly launched a live public beta test program… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 5:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Southeast Asia faced a challenging year in 2024, marked by a “significant contraction” in funding, amid a weak global economy, a new report revealed. According to Tracxn‘s report, prepared by industry analysts, the region’s tech ecosystem experienced a sharp decline in financial inflows and major… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 1:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Bybit Technology Limited, formerly Bybit Fintech Limited, and its Chief Executive Officer Ben Zhou (Yuchen Zhou), have been reprimanded by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for running a digital asset exchange (DAX) without registration. The SC said in a statement that both Bybit and Zhou… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 1:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM (FSRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UAE Ministry of Interior, to enhance coordination in combating financial crime related to virtual assets. The agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of information, strengthen risk mitigation frameworks,… Read More

December 26, 2024 @ 8:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Zid, Saudi Arabia’s commerce enablement platform, has unveiled ‘Total Commerce’ – which is described as a unified ecosystem redefining digital retail – at Ripple 2024. The development is said to be important for retail innovation in Saudi Arabia and across the region as well. Sultan… Read More

December 23, 2024 @ 10:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced extensive rules governing crypto-assets, covering disclosures, public offerings, trading, and marketing activities. The regulations aim to enhance investor protection and promote transparency in the burgeoning digital asset market. Under the new guidelines, crypto-asset offerings must submit… Read More

December 23, 2024 @ 9:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia retained its position as Southeast Asia’s top data center hub in 2024, attracting $23 billion in investments and solidifying its status as a leading digital hub, Knight Frank said Monday. The global property consultant, in its Data Centre Research Report 2024, noted Malaysia ranked… Read More

December 22, 2024 @ 5:22 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global alternative investment firm Arcapita and financial infrastructure technology provider Dgpays have acquired a majority stake in NEOPAY, a UAE-based financial institution, in a deal valued at $385 million, according to an announcement. Mashreq Bank, NEOPAY’s founding entity, retains a substantial minority stake, signaling its… Read More

December 22, 2024 @ 12:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

XTransfer, the B2B cross-border trade payments platform, and OCBC, the financial services group in SE Asia, have announced their latest partnership. OCBC China will now aim to leverage the OCBC Group’s regional network and resources in its major markets of Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia as… Read More

December 20, 2024 @ 9:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) held their second bilateral meeting, reinforcing cooperation and connectivity between the financial services sectors of the two jurisdictions. Building on the initial bilateral meeting held in Abu Dhabi in… Read More

December 20, 2024 @ 7:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Indian government is set to introduce a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at curbing the rise of illegal lending applications, the New Indian Express reported. The Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance has drafted a bill that imposes severe penalties on individuals… Read More

December 20, 2024 @ 6:46 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based insurtech firm bolttech has successfully raised over $100 million in its latest Series C funding round, according to a company statement released on Friday. The funding round was anchored by Dragon Fund, with significant participation from Liquidity and MUFG. Additional investors in the round… Read More

December 20, 2024 @ 1:38 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based digital banking firm Tyme Group has successfully raised $250 million in a Series D funding round, elevating the company to unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1.5 billion. The funding round was led by Brazilian digital banking powerhouse Nubank, which contributed $150 million, while… Read More

December 19, 2024 @ 7:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Singapore headquarters of Sygnum – a global digital asset banking group – Sygnum Pte. Ltd. announced its partnership with Moomoo Singapore to distribute its multi-manager fund to accredited investors on moomoo, a digital investment and wealth management platform with “over 1 million users” in… Read More

December 18, 2024 @ 3:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

Multiple reports indicate that Deutsche Bank is launching a Layer 2 blockchain to fuel digital assets and compliance at the bank. A Layer 2 blockchain is a separate blockchain added to the top of a Layer 1 blockchain like Ethereum. A Layer 2 aims to… Read More

December 17, 2024 @ 9:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ADGM, the international financial centre, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Beijing Financial Street Service Bureau. As explained in the update, this latest agreement reinforces the commitment to fostering connections, particularly in the areas of international “development and industry promotion, further advancing the growth… Read More

December 17, 2024 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has joined forces with the Bank of Punjab (BOP) as a partner to enhance the bank’s proposition across consumer debit and credit, affluent portfolio and loyalty offerings. The collab seeks to transform the banking institution’s digital ecosystem and its customers’ digital experience…. Read More

December 17, 2024 @ 9:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Thoughtworks, a tech consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering, announced it has signed a collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help enterprises across Asia Pacific develop generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) solutions that “drive operational efficiencies.” This will help Thoughtworks’ clients in industries… Read More

December 17, 2024 @ 12:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against two individuals and a single entity regarding money laundering to the benefit of North Korea. OFAC says that Lu Huaying and Zhang Jian, working out of the UAE and… Read More