Asia

August 11, 2025 @ 2:46 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Web3 gaming and blockchain company Animoca Brands announced that it has completed a strategic investment in Cool Cats Group, securing majority control of one of the most recognizable NFT collections alongside partner Coin Operated Group. The investment gives Animoca Brands access to Cool Cats, a… Read More

August 11, 2025 @ 12:54 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based multi-family office Kamet Capital has completed an $8.4 million Series A investment in artificial intelligence avatar platform TopView.ai, valuing the startup at approximately $30.7 million. The investment represents Kamet’s exclusive backing of the AI-powered content creation platform, which develops technology enabling brands to produce… Read More

August 10, 2025 @ 9:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

UAE-based business-to-business Fintech startup Alaan has secured $48 million in Series A funding led by Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia Capital India, to expand its AI-powered spend management platform across the Middle East and North Africa. The funding round included participation from Pioneer Fund, 885… Read More

August 10, 2025 @ 6:08 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Ant International’s WorldFirst has obtained a Class A Money Services Business license from Bank Negara Malaysia, enabling the company to provide international payment and foreign currency receipt services in the country. The license permits WorldFirst to serve small and medium-sized enterprises conducting cross-border trade operations…. Read More

August 10, 2025 @ 5:53 pm By Michael Wong  |  

HashKey Exchange, Hong Kong’s largest licensed virtual asset trading platform, has formed a strategic partnership with publicly listed IVD Medical Holdings Limited to advance enterprise-level digital asset adoption and explore blockchain integration with industrial capital. IVD Medical Holdings, which trades on the Hong Kong Stock… Read More

August 10, 2025 @ 5:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In collaboration with the Digital Asset Development Research Center and FinTech Center of Institute for Information Industry, Regtech company Sumsub took a closer look at Taiwan’s proposed Virtual Assets Service Act and anti-fraud legislations, supporting global-standard compliance across APAC. Sumsub recently joined the Digital Asset… Read More

August 9, 2025 @ 1:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The venture capital ecosystem in Southeast Asia is undergoing a significant transformation, as highlighted in PitchBook’s Q3 2025 Analyst Note titled Southeast Asia’s Early-Stage Capital Crunch. The report from PitchBook underscores a tightening of early-stage funding, driven by cautious investor sentiment, macroeconomic uncertainties, and a… Read More

August 7, 2025 @ 4:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a report released by TRM Labs, titled Shadow Bankers: Illicit Actors in Crypto Networks, the blockchain analytics firm delves into the clandestine world of cryptocurrency-enabled financial crime. The document provides a comprehensive analysis of how illicit actors exploit decentralized finance (DeFi), centralized exchanges, and… Read More

August 7, 2025 @ 12:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Q2 2025 Singapore Market Snapshot, released by PitchBook on August 4, 2025, offers a comprehensive overview of the nation-state’s evolving macroeconomic and microeconomic landscape, spanning both private and public markets. As one of Asia’s financial hubs, Singapore continues to demonstrate resilience amid global economic… Read More

August 5, 2025 @ 11:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong is emerging as a global hub for fintechs, driven by the steady adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. As the city opened applications for stablecoin issuer licenses on August 1, 2025, fintech companies have been quick to seize the moment, raising substantial capital… Read More

August 5, 2025 @ 10:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Mubadala Capital, the asset management arm of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, has joined a $150 million Series C funding round in Anaconda Inc., a US-based provider of open-source infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The round was led by New York-based growth… Read More

August 5, 2025 @ 9:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Grab Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GRAB), Southeast Asia’s superapp, released its second-quarter 2025 financial results on July 31, 2025, showcasing growth in its financial services and FinTech-related businesses. The company, headquartered in Singapore, continues to leverage its integrated platform to deliver steady performance across its mobility, deliveries,… Read More

August 3, 2025 @ 10:48 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Taiwan-based artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure firm Zettabyte has raised new strategic funding from Lam Capital, the corporate venture arm of U.S.-based semiconductor equipment supplier Lam Research Corp. The funding round also included participation from major Taiwanese electronics manufacturers Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, the… Read More

August 3, 2025 @ 9:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Telegram’s May 2025 ban on two major illicit cryptocurrency marketplaces, Huione Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee, has disrupted Southeast Asia’s guarantee services ecosystem, though it has not eradicated it. According to a July 29, 2025, report by TRM Labs, these platforms, which facilitated over $35 billion… Read More

August 2, 2025 @ 6:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC), a wholly owned entity of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has signed a real estate finance portfolio purchase agreement with Bank Albilad as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s residential mortgage market and enhance liquidity… Read More

August 2, 2025 @ 3:37 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global Fintech firm Adyen has partnered with Singapore-based restaurant technology provider Atlas to improve payment processes and operational efficiency for food and beverage (F&B) businesses, according to an announcement. Through the partnership, Atlas integrates Adyen’s payments infrastructure into its AtlasPay solution. This offers simplified reporting,… Read More

August 2, 2025 @ 9:57 am By Michael Wong  |  

The SIDC-CASI SRI Conference 2025 concluded in Kuala Lumpur after three days of discussions focused on accelerating sustainable finance across Southeast Asia. Co-hosted by the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC) and the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI), the event gathered more than 300 delegates… Read More

July 31, 2025 @ 7:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Thunes, the so-called “Smart Superhighway” to move money around the world, announces a collaboration with EzyRemit, one of the digital money transfer operators, to enable cross-border payments to overseas communities worldwide. EzyRemit has offices in “Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, the US and Vietnam, and… Read More

July 30, 2025 @ 11:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the implementation of a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers, set to take effect on August 1, 2025. This move underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering Fintech advancements in the digital asset space while ensuring financial stability and consumer… Read More

July 30, 2025 @ 2:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent move for the United Arab Emirates’ financial services sector, RAKBANK has become one of the first banks in the MENA region country to offer crypto brokerage services directly to retail customers through its mobile app. This milestone marks a step toward integrating… Read More