Asia

May 31, 2021 @ 11:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) has published a paper that reveals the key findings and conclusions reached after a consultation on a proposed licensing requirement for digital asset trading platforms. Hong Kong‘s government has reportedly proposed certain regulatory changes in order… Read More

May 31, 2021 @ 10:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-based DBS Bank Ltd (SGX:D05), a multinational banking and financial services corporation with over $330 billion in assets, revealed on Monday (May 31, 2021) that it has priced a SGD 15 million (appr. $11.35 million) digital bond, which marks DBS Digital Exchange’s (DDEx) first security… Read More

May 31, 2021 @ 8:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A new digital platform called Dubai Next has been introduced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to allow innovators and business entrepreneurs of any nationality to acquire capital to launch their initiatives. The Dubai Next platform went live earlier this month (on Wednesday,… Read More

May 30, 2021 @ 7:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Karachi’s Seed Labs, which has developed a new trading app (called dTrade), has secured $6.4 million in capital through a seed funding round at a $50 million valuation. Seed Labs co-founders Ahmad Jawaid, Zabi Mohebzada, Rabeel Jawaid, and Yameen Malik have helped create the dTrade… Read More

May 30, 2021 @ 6:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

India has a GDP of about $3 trillion which is relatively small when compared to the size of its population (estimated to be around 1.5 billion). There are also many unbanked and financially underserved consumers and businesses across the country. India also does not have… Read More

May 30, 2021 @ 2:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Total trade volume between Qatar and the United Kingdom reportedly reached £7 billion last year, even though there were restrictions in place (partly due to COVID). The strong trading activity is also being reported after various challenges related to the pandemic and resulting socioeconomic uncertainty,… Read More

May 29, 2021 @ 10:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Croatia’s Robo.cash, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace, reveals that its parent holding company, the Robocash Group, is getting ready for a $5 million bond placement in the coming days. As noted in an update, dated May 27, 2021, by Robo.cash, the Group intends to issue bonds… Read More

May 29, 2021 @ 4:14 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Komo, a digital banking service developed by East-West Banking Corporation (EastWest) (PSE: EW) in the Philippines, has teamed up with Open Banking service provider Brankas in order to support instant in-app deposits. Through this partnership, Komo users will be able to instantly top-up their balance… Read More

May 29, 2021 @ 2:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Fintech Alliance.PH and Fintech Philippines Association (FPH) have launched the Philippines Fintech Industry Sandbox pilot which was first unveiled during the Singapore Fintech Festival 2020. The sandbox pilot is supported by the United Kingdom’s ASEAN Economic Reform Program (ASEAN ERP). It has reportedly been… Read More

May 29, 2021 @ 10:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at BitOoda, a global digital asset financial technology and services platform offering risk management solutions, “best-execution” brokerage and market analysis, notes that based on questions they’ve been getting from their clients and partners, they’re now sharing their latest analysis of “potential scenarios” resulting… Read More

May 28, 2021 @ 10:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital asset firm OKEx, which claims to be the world’s largest spot and futures trading platform for cryptos, has clarified that China has not actually banned or attempted to ban Bitcoin (BTC) again. While sharing what they know, the OKEx team noted in a blog… Read More

May 27, 2021 @ 11:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Indian neobank Razorpay notes in a blog post that we are living in a world with “ever-increasing” consumer expectations and “endless options” to choose from these days. The Razorpay team points out that competition among businesses has been increasing over the years. This has helped… Read More

May 27, 2021 @ 10:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

India-based Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) says it’s “revolutionizing” the nation’s digital banking sector which has grown significantly during the past four years. Today, Paytm Payments Bank offers modern Internet banking services that are accessible via smartphones. Paytm provides current and savings accounts, fixed deposits… Read More

May 27, 2021 @ 10:29 pm By JD Alois  |  

Airstar, one of a select few digital banks approved by Hong Kong regulators, has announced SME banking services. AirStar states that following its launch in the summer of 2020 it has experienced a steady increase of both deposit accounts and loan customers and it is… Read More

May 26, 2021 @ 10:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Mojaloop Foundation revealed on Wednesday (May 26, 2021) that MAS will be joining the Mojaloop Foundation as a Sponsor-level member in order to collaborate on offering the underserved access to “affordable” financial services via digital currency based settlement… Read More

May 25, 2021 @ 11:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

hoolah, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Fintech, has partnered with BridgerPay – a payments platform that operates in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. According to a not from the company, hoolah is the first and only BNPL provider in Asia to partner with BridgerPay… Read More

May 24, 2021 @ 10:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

i2c Inc., an established provider of digital payment and banking tech, revealed on Monday (May 23, 2021) that it has partnered with INVESTBANK, a bank offering various financial solutions in Jordan. i2c’s plug-and-play platform will reportedly power credit issuing and acquiring capabilities for INVESTBANK. Through… Read More

May 24, 2021 @ 10:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech Easypaisa has launched an API developer portal in order to enable seamless third-party integrations. Pakistan’s branchless banking service provider, Easypaisa, has confirmed that its API Developer Portal is now live. It may now be used by third parties for integration, sandbox testing environments, and… Read More

May 24, 2021 @ 10:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Central Bank of Kuwait has issued a statement on crypto assets and their risks. Kuwait‘s reserve bank says that it aims to enhance financial awareness and intends to encourage the Kuwaiti banking sector to adopt socially responsible business practices. The Central Bank of Kuwait… Read More

May 24, 2021 @ 9:46 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)-listed Buy Now, Pay Later Fintech Zip is reportedly expanding its business operations into European markets and the Middle East. Zip says it’s acquiring European BNPL Fintech Twisto and UAE’s Spotii as well. Zip reportedly took part in a €16 million investment… Read More