Asia

May 25, 2026 @ 11:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Global markets displayed positive momentum early this week, with Bitcoin pushing past the $77,000 threshold while a steep decline in crude oil values eased cost pressures and encouraged risk-taking. The flagship cryptocurrency hovered near $77,200 during Asian trading sessions, maintaining its position just above a… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 1:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Trading volumes for US-listed options tied to two prominent Chinese fintech firms spiked dramatically just before a major regulatory announcement from Beijing. This activity preceded a sharp downturn in their share prices, highlighting how some investors appeared to anticipate the crackdown. Futu Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:… Read More

May 24, 2026 @ 6:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

USDKG, a gold-backed stablecoin issued by a state entity in Kyrgyzstan, announced its official listing on OSL HK, the Hong Kong-licensed digital asset exchange of stablecoin payment and trading platform OSL Group. The listing allows professional investors to trade the token against Tether’s USDT through… Read More

May 24, 2026 @ 2:43 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Chinese autonomous driving company UISEE Technologies has raised about HK$870 million ($111 million) in a Hong Kong initial public offering, adding to signs of improving investor appetite for AI-linked technology listings in the city. The Beijing-based company began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange… Read More

May 24, 2026 @ 8:47 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Singapore government is taking another step to position itself as a carbon markets hub, this time partnering with the World Bank Group to launch a carbon markets program, according to an announcement. The initiative, dubbed Singapore Carbon Markets Program, aims to help countries build… Read More

May 23, 2026 @ 8:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

For Edward Robinson, deputy managing director for economic policy and chief economist at Monetary Authority of Singapore, the gains from artificial intelligence (AI) are unlikely to arrive quickly due to a mix of shocks from tariffs, energy, and geopolitics. During the 13th Asian Monetary Policy… Read More

May 22, 2026 @ 4:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Franklin Templeton and DigiFT have formed a new alliance to bring the BENJI Technology Platform and its associated tokenized offerings to accredited and institutional investors across the region. This collaboration highlights the growing momentum behind blockchain-enabled financial products and positions the organizations at the center… Read More

May 22, 2026 @ 3:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HUMAIN, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company specializing in comprehensive AI solutions, has teamed up with global professional services firm Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The alliance positions Accenture as a key strategic partner for AI reinvention and innovation, aiming to expand HUMAIN’s reach and capabilities throughout Saudi… Read More

May 22, 2026 @ 7:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Payward, the parent company of the cryptocurrency exchange and digital investment platform Kraken, has received preliminary approval for a comprehensive broker-dealer, investment, and management license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This milestone marks a significant step in digital assets platform Kraken’s strategy to… Read More

May 21, 2026 @ 8:49 am By JD Alois  |  

Bsquared Technology has lost its regulatory approval issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).  The regulator stated that Bsquared was banned from providing digital payment token services on May 14th. MAS said an on-site inspection revealed serious regulatory compliance violations. This included a claim… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

For many years, individual consumers and businesses operating in Pakistan have experienced considerable challenges when accessing basic financial services due to a lack of regulatory clarity and issues related to inadequate regulatory guidelines. However, this year has started off on a rather positive note with… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

XDC Network is now reportedly working with Animoca Brands as a strategic institutional validator. Announced recently this month, the partnership sees the Web3 investor and builder operating masternodes on the specialized network, which handles substantial volumes in trade finance and real-world asset (RWA) transactions each… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 11:05 am By JD Alois  |  

Iran has announced it intends to offer insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz using Bitcoin. Fars News Agency and Iran’s Ministry of Economy state that the system provides cryptographically verifiable insurance policies. By using Bitcoin, Iran aims to circumvent the many sanctions imposed… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong regulators and market participants have released a sector-focused transition finance guide for the technology industry, as the city seeks to give banks, investors, and issuers more practical tools for assessing climate transition plans in digital infrastructure and ICT financing. The Hong Kong Green… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank will ease some rules governing the sale of complex investment products to retail investors, as regulators seek to balance investor protection with growing demand for self-directed investing platforms and digital financial services. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it will proceed… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 7:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A recent report indicates that China’s artificial intelligence venture market is demonstrating notable resilience amid a broader slowdown in venture capital activity, according to a new Q2 2026 analyst note from PitchBook. While overall VC deployment has contracted significantly since its 2021 peak, AI-related investments… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 7:06 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar has launched a $30 million deep-tech venture fund that will invest in early-stage startups headquartered in the country that are developing tech with measurable social or climate impact. The fund adds to a wave of state-backed investment vehicles across the Gulf aimed at attracting… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 3:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Harvard University’s endowment is said to have significantly scaled back its cryptocurrency exposure, while Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company has steadily expanded its commitment to Bitcoin. Recent 13F filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) highlight these shifts among major institutional players navigating… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 3:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Australia’s NEXTDC has opened a $720 million data center in Malaysia, betting on rising demand for AI infrastructure and cloud services in Southeast Asia as governments and companies race to expand digital capacity. The facility, known as KL1 Kuala Lumpur, marks NEXTDC’s first international expansion and comes… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 11:41 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The stablecoin sector continues to evolve with various financial institutions and regulators advancing infrastructure that blends traditional finance with blockchain capabilities. French banking provider Societe Generale is expanding its tokenized finance initiatives by integrating its CoinVertible stablecoins into the Canton Network. Through its digital assets… Read More