Asia

August 22, 2025 @ 10:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital assets firm OKX has announced significant updates that underscore its commitment to innovation, regulatory compliance, and user trust. These developments include the launch of On-Chain Earn in Singapore, the appointment of Marcus Hughes as Vice President of Global Government Relations, and a renewed focus… Read More

August 22, 2025 @ 8:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple, a firm focused on enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, and SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial services conglomerate and its subsidiary SBI VC Trade Co., Ltd., a provider of crypto asset exchange business (jointly SBI Group), announced an MOU for SBI VC Trade, “a licensed… Read More

August 21, 2025 @ 11:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Libeara, a tokenization platform incubated by SC Ventures by Standard Chartered is pleased to announced that it has received an in-principle approval (IPA) from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for its Capital Markets Services (CMS) license. This in-principle approval represents “a significant regulatory milestone… Read More

August 21, 2025 @ 8:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Stripe has reportedly introduced over 50 upgrades to accelerate global growth for Asian businesses. The announcements were shared at Stripe Tour Singapore 2025, “where over 1,300 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and developers gathered for the company’s annual conference in Southeast Asia.” Updates included: Stripe Reader S710, Stripe’s… Read More

August 20, 2025 @ 5:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Nium, the infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, announced the expansion of Verify, its account validation service, in Europe, through a strengthened strategic partnership with iPiD, the provider of the Know Your Payee (KYP) solution, iPiD Node. As part of this deepening collaboration, iPiD is also… Read More

August 16, 2025 @ 9:26 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Thailand will launch a program on Monday allowing foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht for payments, as the government seeks to revive tourism following a decline in Chinese visitors. The “TouristDigiPay” initiative will be announced at a press conference led by Deputy Prime… Read More

August 16, 2025 @ 8:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global payment platform SUNRATE acquired a payment business license in China following its purchase of a complete stake in Transfar Pay, a subsidiary of Shenzhen-listed Transfar Group. The RMB 315 million ($43.8 million) acquisition received approval from Chinese regulatory authorities. Transfar Group disclosed the transaction… Read More

August 16, 2025 @ 7:36 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysian telecommunications company Axiata Group Berhad signed a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to enhance cybersecurity capabilities and develop digital talent in the Southeast Asian nation. The agreement establishes cooperation between Axiata and the ministry across cyber threat intelligence, incident… Read More

August 16, 2025 @ 7:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong’s central bank and securities regulator issued a joint warning against speculative trading driven by stablecoin licensing announcements and social media posts. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Securities and Futures Commission said they observed market movements linked to corporate announcements, news reports, and… Read More

August 15, 2025 @ 3:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Schroders Greencoat, the specialist energy transition manager of Schroders Capital, and JERA Nex, the global renewable energy developer, are pleased to announce that Schroders Greencoat has taken “a 50% stake in JERA Nex’s US solar portfolio.” The portfolio is comprised of the “300MW Oxbow Solar… Read More

August 15, 2025 @ 7:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tuum, the core banking provider, has been selected by Oliver Business Development (OBD) Holding to power its newly licensed e-banking services in the MEA region called Uptex Bank. The partnership marks Tuum’s first customer in the Middle East and reinforces its strategy to “support financial… Read More

August 15, 2025 @ 1:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has agreed to acquire CyberCX, a privately-owned cybersecurity services provider serving private and public sector organizations across Australia, New Zealand and internationally. The move represents Accenture’s largest cybersecurity “acquisition to date and will bolster Accenture’s cybersecurity services in Asia Pacific.” It will… Read More

August 14, 2025 @ 10:16 am By JD Alois  |  

KAIO, a firm that aims to tokenize real-world assets, says it has enlisted Hedera to bring institutional funds on the blockchain. KAIO says that it has now incorporated several separate funds: Laser Digital Carry Fund (LCF) – a market-neutral, low-correlation digital asset fund BlackRock ICS… Read More

August 11, 2025 @ 10:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Asia-Pacific region’s initial public offering market continued its upward trajectory despite market volatility and geopolitical tensions. In the first seven months of 2025, 385 listings raised a “$28.4 billion in the region, which marks a 32.6% year-on-year (YoY) increase in IPO proceeds.” Greater China… Read More

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