Asia

October 2, 2019 @ 2:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The state-owned pawnshop PT Pegadaian in Indonesia is reportedly planning to invest Rp 500 billion (appr. $35.26 million) in several local Fintech firms this year. President director Kuswiyoto noted on September 30 that the investment would go toward funding the operations of five Fintech companies…. Read More

October 2, 2019 @ 1:50 am By Cali Haan  |  

Coinone, a popular cryptocurrency exchange in Korea, has been ordered by a judge in Seoul to pay 25 million won (~$20 780 USD) to a customer who had his exchange accounts drained in a hack. According to Chosun IT, this is Korea’s first case of a… Read More

October 1, 2019 @ 10:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Mumbai-based Airpay Payment Services, a payments platform, has announced a partnership with InstaReM, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital cross-border payments companies. The new partnership will launch “FX Payment”, an international payments solution for its merchants. Airpay’s “FX payment” is an alternative to credit cards… Read More

October 1, 2019 @ 10:18 pm By Xu Gao  |  

The CBIRC and PBC Jointly Release 2019 China Inclusive Finance Development Report On September 29th, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) and the People’s Bank of China (PBC) jointly released the “2019 China Inclusive Finance Development Report ” (hereinafter referred to as the… Read More

October 1, 2019 @ 5:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

UK-based SenSat, a company that converts complex visual and spatial data into a real-time simulated reality that allows computers to find solutions to real-world problems, has raised $10 million through a Series A investment round, which was led by Shenzhen-based internet giant Tencent. Sistema Venture… Read More

October 1, 2019 @ 1:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tarin Thaniyavarn, the country head for Fintech firm Grab’s Thailand division, points out that advancements in telecommunications and mobile technology allow users to perform and manage many different tasks from their smartphones. For example, we can book rides, order meals or groceries, and pay for… Read More

September 30, 2019 @ 1:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has requested Bengaluru-based digital payments firm PhonePe to work with another banking partner for its Unified Payments Service (UPI) model. PhonePe’s management has reportedly decided to work with Mumbai-headquartered multinational banking and financial services company ICICI Bank. According… Read More

September 30, 2019 @ 12:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fintech Funderbeam has received a financial services license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This means that Funderbeam will be able to provide funding options to the Singapore market thus representing a significant expansion from its European base. Singapore based Funderbeam Markets Pte Ltd…. Read More

September 30, 2019 @ 11:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ant Financial Services Group, an affiliate company of the Chinese Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA), is teaming up with Bayer Crop Science to create a blockchain-enabled platform for monitoring agricultural product. Ant Financial and Bayer Crop signed a letter of intent to leverage blockchain technology to develop… Read More

September 30, 2019 @ 7:54 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Chinese consumer financing platform LexinFintech announced on Monday it has appointed  Suining Xiao to its board of directors. According to LexinFintech, Xiao has been appointed as a designee of PAG, an Asia-focused private equity firm, in connection with PAG’s purchase of convertible notes from the… Read More

September 30, 2019 @ 6:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Traveloka, the largest online travel startup in Southeast Asia, is planning to issue a credit card, called the PayLater card, via a partnership with PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk, which will be connected to its booking services. Traveloka’s travel app aims to target users… Read More

September 28, 2019 @ 1:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Switzerland-based EST Group announced on September 27 that it will invest $250 million in the next 18 months into various Indian Fintech companies. EST Group said in a release that it is very bullish about the Indian market due to great potential for new opportunities…. Read More

September 27, 2019 @ 10:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard has announced the launch of a pilot program that involves helping garment factory workers transition from using cash to receiving digital wage payments. Sue Kelsey, executive vice president, prepaid solutions, Mastercard, stated in a press release: “At Mastercard, our vision is to ultimately build… Read More

September 27, 2019 @ 8:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Shares of Chinese Fintech firms are surging as the nation’s investors prepare for the upcoming launch of a national digital currency. China’s new internet-based currency is expected to increase demand for related security and payment services. The CSI Fintech theme index, an index that tracks… Read More

September 26, 2019 @ 2:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Most, or 94%, of the financial services firms based in Singapore are looking for skilled Fintech professionals, according to survey data from local jobs and recruitment site Michael Page Singapore. Nilay Khandelwal, managing director at Michael Page Singapore, noted: “With the Fintech landscape in Singapore… Read More

September 26, 2019 @ 2:06 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com announced on Thursday the launch of its Pay Checkout plugin for e-commerce platform, WooCommerce. According to Crypto.com, the plugin enables merchants to accept cryptocurrency, and may instantly convert to fiat currencies of choice for merchants. “Powered by the Crypto.com’s PCI:DSS… Read More

September 26, 2019 @ 2:56 am By JD Alois  |  

Dr. Zhou Xiaochuan, President, China Society for Finance and Banking, and former Governor, People’s Bank of China, addressed a closed-door audience today in an event sponsored by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The topic of Dr. Xiaochuan’s speech was “Fintech development and its interaction… Read More

September 25, 2019 @ 8:20 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has registered EdgeProp Sdn Bhd as the first “Recognised Market Operator” to establish and operate a property crowdfunding platform in Malaysia. EdgeProp was granted an approval in principle in September 2019. EdgeProp currently provides a portfolio of services for the… Read More

September 25, 2019 @ 2:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Cryptocurrency holdings are not considered cash, however, they may be classified as an intangible asset, according to the Korea Accounting Institute, which referenced decisions made following a conference in London (in June) by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC). London-headquartered IFRIC, a global accounting… Read More

September 24, 2019 @ 10:32 am By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), at Cambridge Judge Business School, is out with the Asean Fintech Ecosystem Benchmarking Study published in partnership with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and FinTechSpace in Taiwan. CCAF is the leading research institute covering the global alternative… Read More