Asia

UK Cross-Border Payments Fintech Currencycloud Appoints Former Goldman Sachs Exec to Lead APAC Expansion

London-based Currencycloud, an established provider of B2B embedded cross-border solutions, recently revealed that it has launched an Asia Pacific (APAC) headquarters in Singapore. Currencycloud‘s new business office, based in Raffles Quay, will act as a hub to help the UK-headquartered Fintech with expanding operations across… Read More

Klaytn Teams Up With ConsenSys For Blockchain Solutions

Klaytn, a global public blockchain platform developed by Ground X, the blockchain affiliate of the leading South Korean Internet company, Kakao, announced on Thursday it has teamed up with ConsenSys, an Ethereum software company, to advance its platform’s integrated digital currency efforts. Klaytn reported through… Read More

UK’s Lendable Provides $15M Secured Loan to Uploan, a Philippines based Salary linked Financial Services Provider

Philippines-based Uploan, an established provider of salary-linked financial services, has reportedly acquired a senior secured loan of $15 million from UK’s Lendable, a provider of debt to Fintech firms in emerging or developing markets. The long-term facility should help Uploan with expanding its existing loan… Read More

DBS Bank and Contour to Expand Digital Trade Offerings in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore

DBS Bank and Contour have expanded their digital trade offerings to four new markets in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. As mentioned in a release, digital letter of credit capabilities will be offered in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore starting this month. The announcement also… Read More

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Multi-Strategy Digital Asset Fund Introduced by Huobi Asset Mgmt, Intended for Professional Investors

Huobi Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huobi Technology Holdings Limited, has introduced virtual asset-related funds for professional investors. The new product offering includes three digital asset funds and a private equity fund for blockchain mining-related businesses, according to a release shared… Read More

Insurtech Ignatica Raises $7 Million Pre-Series A Funding

Ingatica, an Insurtech that offers a digital self-service and automation solutions for insurers, has closed on a USD $7 million pre-series A funding. The investment was led by Lingfeng Capital, with participation from SOSV Investment Funds, Australia-based Artesian, HK-Based AFG Partners Fund, as well as… Read More

Revolut to Expand in India, Will Hire 300 Staff as Part of Expansion: Report

Digital bank Revolut is expanding into India, according to multiple reports. India, with a population of over 1.3 billion, assets of public sector banks are around Rs. 107.83 lakh crore or USD $ 1.52 trillion as of 2020, according to a recent report. In India,… Read More

Board of Abu Dhabi Global Market Approves Formation of ADGM Authority, Will be Led by Financial Services Veteran Mark Nicholas Cutis

The Board of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center located in Abu Dhabi, has reportedly approved the formation of the ADGM Authority. ADGM Authority is expected to be led by Mark Nicholas Cutis, who will be serving as the organization’s Chief Executive…. Read More

Indian Fintech Razorpay Secures $160M in Funding from GIC, Sequoia, Ribbit Capital, Matrix Partners

Indian neobank Razorpay notes that it’s been a challenging time for people across the globe. COVID-19 has disrupted lives in many different ways, the company adds in a recent blog post. Razorpay points out that with over a year since the first lockdown, Indian businesses… Read More

CBDCs: China to Expand Digital Yuan Pilot Program into other Cities, but No Confirmed Date for Official Virtual Currency Launch

China is reportedly expanding its virtual yuan experiments to more local cities, however, there’s no exact timetable for its official launch, central bank Vice Governor Li Bo stated during an annual meeting on Sunday (April 18, 2021) of both Chinese and foreign policymakers, senior executives… Read More

Pakistan to Conduct Research on Developing its own Central Bank Digital Currency to Enable Greater Financial Inclusion

Pakistan is reportedly planning to carry out studies in order to potentially launch a State-backed virtual currency so that it can enhance its existing banking system, enable greater financial inclusion, and also ensure that illicit activtiies such as money laundering are not being carried out… Read More

South Korea to Introduce Updated Crypto Regulations due to Investors Engaging in Trading Activities with Investors, Platforms in Other Nations

Financial regulators in South Korea are reportedly discussing the launch of an updated regulatory framework for overseas remittances made by investors. These traders are allegedly trying to make huge profits by capitalizing on Bitcoin price gaps found on different cryptocurrency exchanges based in Korea and… Read More

DeFi Needs a More Reliable Credit Scoring System According to Blockchain Platform Ontology Founder Li Jun

Decentralized finance (DeFi) requires a more reliable credit scoring system, however, we need to be cautious, according to Ontology (ONT) Founder, Li Jun. Jun explains that credit scores have been “a cornerstone of risk evaluation in the global banking systems for decades.” He adds that… Read More

Chinese Fintech Ant Group Is Reportedly Considering Ways for Jack Ma to Make a Complete Exit from the Firm

China’s Ant Group is looking into potential ways for billionaire Jack Ma to make an exit as Beijing continues to increase its pressure and scrutiny of Fintech businesses in the country, according to a report from Reuters which cited sources familiar with the matter. According… Read More

Fintech Funding: MENA Region’s Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt Raised Substantial Amounts in Q1 2021, but UK Remains a Global Leader in Fintech

MENA region startups secured $170 million in capital during March 2021, which is reportedly a 6% increase month-over-month, across 43 different deals, according to local sources. This notably takes the total funds raised during Q1 2021 to $396 million across 125 different deals, which is… Read More

Bank of Japan Official Says China’s Digital Yuan Will Not Pose Threat to US Dollar’s Position as Global Reserve Currency

A senior Bank of Japan (BoJ) official has stated that China’s digital renminbi will not be able to pose a threat to the US dollar’s dominant position as the global reserve currency. As reported by Bloomberg, Kazushige Kamiyama, who heads the BoJ’s payment systems division… Read More

China: WeiyangX Fintech Review

The People’s Bank of China and Six Other Departments Launch Fintech Projects for Rural Vitalization In order to better implement the strategy of rural vitalization, the People’s Bank of China and six other department (namely Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Industry and… Read More

Malaysian Insurtech Fatberry Secures RM 2.5M or $600K via Pre-Series A Round led by Stockholm’s Abelco Investment Group

Malaysian Insurtech platform Fatberry has reportedly secured RM 2.5 million (appr. $600,000) through a pre-series A funding round. As noted by its management: “FatBerry is Malaysia’s most comprehensive online insurance portal. We allow you to compare and search for the best coverage plans quickly and… Read More

Swiss Wealth Management Group Julius Baer Introduces Digital Advisory Suite for Asian Markets

Swiss wealth management group Julius Baer has introduced its Digital Advisory Suite (DiAS) in Asian markets. The DIAS soluton aims to simplify the regulatory compliance process for relationship managers, allowing them to provide compliant advice to their customers. The suite serves as a “fully-integrated” solution…. Read More

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Partners Bangalore based Fintech NIRA to Provide Personal Loans to India’s Salaried Workers

Ujjivan SFB has teamed up with NIRA in India to offer personal loans. As reported by the Economic Times, Ujjivan SFB noted that the partnership with NIRA is a key part of their business approach of using API Banking solutions as part of strategic Fintech… Read More

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