Asia

July 1, 2022 @ 8:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s largest independent asset managers, officially opened its first Asian Fintech incubator in the heart of Singapore. The Franklin Templeton Singapore Fintech Incubator is “a joint incubation program for early-stage Fintech startups in partnership with F10 Global Innovation Network Singapore… Read More

June 29, 2022 @ 11:10 am By JD Alois  |  

Three Arrows Capital (3AC), a large crypto hedge fund that held $10 billion in assets at one point, has been forced into liquidation according to a report. Earlier this week, Voyager Digital  (TSX: VOYG) (OTCQX: VYGVF), a digital asset firm that lent over $650 million to… Read More

June 28, 2022 @ 11:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

Leading Asian SME financing platform and emerging neobank Funding Societies is acquiring regional payments solution, CardUp. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. CardUp is a payments provider serving both businesses and individuals. CardUp was founded in 2016 and operates in Singapore, Hong Kong,… Read More

June 28, 2022 @ 7:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hamilton Lane (NASDAQ: HLNE) recently announced that Victor Jung is joining the firm as Head of Digital Assets. In this role, Jung will be “responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of the firm’s digital asset strategy.” He will oversee this strategy globally and “report… Read More

June 28, 2022 @ 1:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Liminal, a wallet operations infrastructure that secures digital assets, has reportedly surpassed $3 billion in transactions via its platform. Established in 2021, this milestone comes “as a reflection of the company’s capacity to scale in a relatively short amount of time,” according to an update… Read More

June 27, 2022 @ 11:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

China Construction Bank (Chongqing and Singapore branches) and ADDX have entered a partnership “to help domestic investors in China participate in the country’s official offshore investment scheme.” The financial institutions announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that “paves the way for them… Read More

June 27, 2022 @ 9:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Spire, a GCC Open Banking services provider, has announced a partnership with Mastercard (NYSE: MA),  a technology leader in the global payments sector. The collaboration will “help banks revolutionize consumer engagement and enhance user experiences in the region by integrating Spire ‘Ingage’ and Mastercard’s Merchant… Read More

June 27, 2022 @ 2:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

Three Arrows Capital (3AC) has defaulted on a $670 million loan. Voyager Digital  (TSX: VOYG) (OTCQX: VYGVF) , a digital asset firm that had previously warned it had exposure to 3AC in regards to 15,250 Bitcoin (~$308 million) and $350 million (USDC) for over $650… Read More

June 24, 2022 @ 3:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

Hex Trust, Hong Kong-based digital asset custody provider providing services across Asia, has gained provisional approval for a Virtual Asset MVP license in Dubai. According to a statement by Hex Trust, the Government of Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has approved it to operate… Read More

June 22, 2022 @ 9:18 am By JD Alois  |  

Nium has partnered with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), a non-profit that supports the growth of public blockchain Stellar, to enable payouts to 190 countries. According to Nium by leveraging Stellar the payments and transfers improve upon the traditional correspondent banking system. Joaquin Auyso, Head… Read More

June 21, 2022 @ 8:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Visa (NYSE: V), which claims to be the leader in virtual payments, recently announced the launch of its global She’s Next initiative in the United Arab Emirates in order to economically empower women entrepreneurs. The initiative has been introduced with assistance from First Abu Dhabi… Read More

June 20, 2022 @ 10:43 am By JD Alois  |  

OurCrowd, a leading global securities crowdfunding platform, has partnered with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) in the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) program, according to a statement issued by OurCrowd. The goal is to boost international collaboration between the two countries to increase investment as… Read More

June 19, 2022 @ 11:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan: OJK) have exchanged letters on Fintech Cooperation Framework “regarding Innovation in the financial sector.” This will lead to “increased exchanges regarding innovative trends and strengthen the cooperative relationship between the… Read More

June 19, 2022 @ 5:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dina Sam’an, the Founder and Managing Director of CoinMENA, notes that she’s very excited to share that CoinMENA has obtained a provisional license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA). Sam’an adds that regulatory compliance has been a “top priority” for CoinMENA from day one…. Read More

June 18, 2022 @ 3:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Minna Bank, Ltd., Japan’s “first” digital bank, has recorded more than 1 million downloads of its mobile banking app and over 400,000 accounts have been “opened in its first year of commercial operations since May 28, 2021.” With the first “full” Cloud core banking system,… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 6:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ant Group recently announced the launch of Alipay+ Unified Payment. This product upgrade “provides a unified, scalable technical solution to help online and brick-and-mortar merchants collect money through all digital payment methods supported by Alipay+ in a more convenient and effective way.” Alipay+ offers “a… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 3:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

Huobi Group, an operator of a crypto exchange, says it has received regulatory approval in two new jurisdictions: Dubai and New Zealand. In Dubai, Huobi obtained a DIFC Innovation License. In New Zealand, Huobi has been added to the Financial Services Provider Register. Huobi said these… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 9:51 am By JD Alois  |  

Babel Finance, a Hong Kong-based crypto firm that recently raised $80 million at a $2 billion valuation, has halted all withdrawals and redemptions according to a company statement. Posted on the website, Babel Finance explains: “Recently, the market has fluctuated violently, and some institutions in… Read More

June 17, 2022 @ 6:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Episode Six, a global payment and banking infrastructure provider, announced a new relationship with Galaxy FinX, Vietnam’s Fintech builder that is “re-shaping” the future of money and banking in the country. The deal “represents two firsts for Episode Six: a partnership in Vietnam as well… Read More

June 16, 2022 @ 7:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Flip, Indonesia’s consumer payments platform, announced a second close of a Series B funding round “led by Tencent, with participation from Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.) and existing investor Insight Partners.” A number of experienced operators “participated meaningfully in this extension round, including Guillaume Pousaz,… Read More