Asia

April 25, 2017 @ 6:59 am By Jonathan Nieh  |  

Last week, ONGO, a mobile payments platform based in Myanmar, announced a strategic partnership with the National Bank of Canada (NBC). According to ONGO’s announcement, NBC acquired a 22% stake in ONGO. The company declined to disclose any other terms of the deal. ONGO is… Read More

April 25, 2017 @ 6:56 am By Erin Hobey  |  

According to multiple new sources, MobiKwik and FreeCharge are considering an all-stock deal merger. Post-merger, the platform also anticipates an additional $200 million (nearly Rs 1,300 crore) injection from an unnamed Chinese investor. FreeCharge, part of online marketplace Snapdeal, has reportedly been seeking a buyer for some time, having recently… Read More

April 24, 2017 @ 9:30 pm By Cole Lyons  |  

The Singapore based platform, Woomentum, has announced its plan to expand into the emerging market in Vietnam. Woomentum, founded by Mouna Aouri, is a crowdfunding site that focuses on female entrepreneurs, providing them with support during the most difficult stage of the start-up processes. Their website states:… Read More

April 24, 2017 @ 7:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

BBD-FNB Ltd., a China based big data provider has created a “Global Crowdfunding Index” in partnership with Crowdsurfer and the Academy of Internet Finance (AIF) at Zhejiang University and headquartered in Hangzhou. BBD (Business Big Data) is a founding member of AIF. The Index is said… Read More

April 24, 2017 @ 12:28 pm By Cole Lyons  |  

In an attempt to promote innovation in their financial service markets, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and Indonesia’s Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) have entered into a Fintech Cooperation Agreement. Stated in a release Friday the 21st in Melbourne, the agreement creates a framework for collaboration… Read More

April 23, 2017 @ 9:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

DeClout (SGX:5UZ) has launched a new incubator program designed to help local Fintech startups. Announced today, the program has been launched via its wholly-owned subsidiary, DeClout Investments Pte. Ltd. Under its incubation program DeClout will mentor early-stage startups and help them in product development, proof-of-concept,… Read More

April 23, 2017 @ 4:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UN sponsored Better than Cash Alliance is out with an interesting report on Fintech and payments in China. The Alliance partners with governments, companies, and international organizations that are the key drivers behind the transition to make digital payments widely available around the globe…. Read More

April 23, 2017 @ 10:00 am By Cole Lyons  |  

In another attempt to secure a firm grasp on the Indian market, Amazon has turned towards mobile wallets for its next venture. The e-commerce behemoth has obtained a license from the Indian Reserve Bank (RBI) for the operation of a prepaid payment instruments (PPI). Amazon… Read More

April 22, 2017 @ 12:29 pm By Xu Gao  |  

Xiaomi Opens Xiaomi Lending to Android Users On April 11, Xiaomi Corp., China’s leading mobile phone maker, launched the mobile application Xiaomi Lending in Android market, signaling a strong ambition to expand in the country’s booming Internet Finance sector. When Xiaomi Lending was first launched… Read More

April 21, 2017 @ 3:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

This is a special time of the year in Washington, DC. It is the annual Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank meaning a diverse group of policymakers and regulators descend upon the US Capitol clogging restaurants and over-booking hotels. This also means there… Read More

April 21, 2017 @ 8:20 am By JD Alois  |  

ASEAN crowdfunding platform CoAssets (ASX: CA8) is pushing into Hong Kong as part of a growth and “internationalization strategy”. CoAssets announced a Memorandum of Understanding this past March. CoAssets announced it has entered into a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with the shareholders of Fintech Pte… Read More

April 20, 2017 @ 10:36 pm By Jonathan Nieh  |  

Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer has been touring China for the past week. On several stops along his trip, Maurer has given speeches and interviews detailing Switzerland’s hopes in strengthening financial ties with China and in sharing Fintech knowledge. Speaking with China Global Television Network, Maurer… Read More

April 20, 2017 @ 10:06 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Chinese marketplace lending platform Yirendai (NYSE: YRD) announced on Thursday it has made incremental progress in facilitating consumer loan products with asset-backed security (ABS) structure. This news comes just a couple weeks after the online lender entered into an agreement of intent with the Beijing branch of… Read More

April 20, 2017 @ 3:43 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Japanese investment bank Nomura has set up a fintech program in India, inviting entrepreneurs in Mumbai to build new tools for capital markets. The Voyager partnership aims to give Indian fintech specialists access to Nomura’s resources at the Mumbai innovation centre, enabling them to test their ideas using… Read More

April 19, 2017 @ 10:37 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Tuesday, Pi Capital announced it was named financial advisor and placement agent to Money360 for its $250 million South Korean financing vehicle, which designed to allow the online lender to employ funding as it provides commercial real estate loans to its U.S. client base. Steve Carlson,… Read More

April 18, 2017 @ 9:35 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Chinese peer-to-peer lending platform, Dianrong, announced on Tuesday the following financial leadership changes, effective immediately: Xuxia Kuang, the lender’s CFO, has been named COO. Yawen Cui has joined Dianrong as the new CFO. Kuang and Cui will report to Dianrong founder and CEO Soul Htite…. Read More

April 18, 2017 @ 8:55 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) under the ongoing UNCDF’s SHIFT (Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformations) have partnered on a program to increase digital financial services across the ASEAN region. According to MAS, the two entities will explore opportunities… Read More

April 17, 2017 @ 10:49 pm By Jonathan Nieh  |  

  China Rapid Finance, a peer-to-peer (P2P) lender based in Shanghai, China, announced that it has set the terms for its upcoming US IPO. The company plans to raise $105 million through the offering of 10 million shares priced between $9.50 to $11.50 a share. At… Read More

April 17, 2017 @ 11:10 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Technology Enabler Group (FTEG) announced on Monday it is now seeking ideas from the public on the improvements to financial services sector by harnessing innovation and technology. The call for participation for ideas is now open through its new “Fintech Hacks” initiative,… Read More

April 17, 2017 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

Dallas based MoneyGram (NASDAQ:MGI), a global provider of money transfer services, has become quite popular. This past January, Alibaba’s Ant Financial subsidiary announced it had offered the firm $13.25 per share to acquire the company. The two companies had entered into a definitive agreement to… Read More