Asia

May 31, 2016 @ 10:33 am By JD Alois  |  

It was reported earlier this month that billionaire Tianqiao Chen, founder of Shanda Interactive Entertainment, had taken a significant stake in Lending Club (NYSE:LC).  Shares of Lending Club have cratered since the resignation of former CEO Renaud Laplanche. The move by Chen appeared to be an… Read More

May 31, 2016 @ 9:02 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Tuesday, real estate crowdfunding platform CoAssets (NSX:CAX) announced it is expanding its operations by opening a second office in Singapore. This news comes just a couple months after the portal revealed details about its Australia expansion. Co-founder and CEO of CoAssets, Getty Goh, stated: “A series… Read More

May 30, 2016 @ 9:02 am By JD Alois  |  

Speaking at a financial forum this past weekend, Chen Yulu, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, warned of higher risk with financial institutions as internet finance, including peer to peer lending, become more intertwined. According to a report in ChinaNews, the situation has… Read More

May 29, 2016 @ 11:59 am By JD Alois  |  

The peer to peer lending industry in India has been slow to evolve in contrast to many other nations. Yet India is the second most populous country with more than 1.2 billion people and is the most populous democracy in the world. The opportunity for… Read More

May 27, 2016 @ 5:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

FinPlus, backed by Fugel Holdings, launched today claiming to be China’s first angel fund and accelerator focusing specifically on Fintech. In a release, Fugel Holdings stated they believe now is the right time to develop Fintech in China. In many ways China is the largest… Read More

May 26, 2016 @ 2:23 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Add Esudai to a growing list of fraudulent Chinese P2P lending platforms that are being shut down by the Chinese government.  Today Reuters reported that police in the Huizhou, Guangdong province, had detained 13 executives including legal representative and chairman Jian Huixing from the Guangdong Huirong… Read More

May 24, 2016 @ 2:56 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Jirnexu, a bank and insurance company tech solution provider formally known as Saving Plus, raised $3M in Series A funding, according to a release. Funding will be used to drive product development, geographic expansion and recruitment across Southeast Asia, with Malaysia and Indonesia as priority… Read More

May 23, 2016 @ 10:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

Most people understand that rewards based crowdfunding platforms can be an effective tool to test a new product or service. If it is a hit in presales, it bodes well for a larger market roll out. The same can be said for Chinese companies seeking… Read More

May 23, 2016 @ 10:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

P2P lender i2iFunding has raised 2 crore (about $300,000 USD) from unnamed angel investors to expand their operations.  Several weeks back, the Reserve Bank of India released a consultation paper on peer to peer lending indicating potential capital requirements. The additional funding should help i2iFunding… Read More

May 23, 2016 @ 4:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

Lending Club (NYSE:LC) has been pounded by bad news this month. Following the announcement that founder and CEO Renaud Laplanche had resigned for alleged improprieties at the online lender, the bad news avalanche began.  One day it was a subpoena, the next it was a… Read More

May 23, 2016 @ 8:27 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

CoAssets (NSX:CAX), launched as a real estate crowdfunding platform in Singapore, announced on Monday its new risk-free crowdfunding that is available for Aussie investors. Following last month’s launch of the CoAssets Australia website in April 2016, CoAssets revealed it is offering new users the chance to trial… Read More

May 22, 2016 @ 10:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

Singapore-based EthisCrowd has closed a S$500,000 seed round for their Islamic real estate crowdfunding platform.  The funding round may be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The new capital was led by Azmi Global, a subsidiary of Asmi & Associates – a top… Read More

May 22, 2016 @ 6:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

  There is a tidal wave of Asian money that wants to head to North America and diversify into different asset classes.  Yet Chinese officials have made it challenging for many individuals to move money out. DreameGGs is a relatively new platform that is seeking… Read More

May 16, 2016 @ 10:13 am By Erin Hobey  |  

As Chinese authorities continue their hunt for unregulated online lending and investment firms, more fraudulent fintech platforms are bound to be nabbed for unseemly and illegal behavior.  Today Bloomberg News reported the latest Ponzi scheme that separated 39.9 billion yuan ($6.1 billion) from 25,000 investors. Crowdfund… Read More

May 12, 2016 @ 10:56 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Curren$eek, a smartphone app that tells users where to find the best money-changer rates, won the Visa and Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM)’s Asean Fintech Challenge. The challenge was held in conjunction with the Global Islamic Finance Forum 5.0, to allow start-ups to… Read More

May 12, 2016 @ 10:28 am By Erin Hobey  |  

The UK and Singapore have established a “fintech bridge” that will help financial technology firms and investors from each country gain access to the other. Billed as the first of its kind, the bridge enables the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore… Read More

May 11, 2016 @ 10:37 am By JD Alois  |  

  China is the largest market for alternative finance in the world. According to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), China delivered over $100 billion in alternative finance, including peer to peer lending and crowdfunding, in 2015.  This was more than a 3X jump… Read More

May 10, 2016 @ 10:44 am By Erin Hobey  |  

P2P lending startup Faircent has raised Series A round led by JM Financial Ltd subsidiary which has picked up 9.8% stake in the company, according to a release. The capital will be utilized by the Mumbai-based company to build its technology and product as well strengthening and growing… Read More

May 5, 2016 @ 8:36 am By JD Alois  |  

Israel is one of the hottest startup ecosystems in the world today. The small country has consistently punched above its weight class by turning out consecutive startup hits – many in the Fintech sector. The highly educated, risk-embracing Israelis have taken the title of Startup Nation…. Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 11:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

The “Memorandum of Cooperation on the Establishment and Implementation of the Asia Region Funds Passport”, has now been signed by Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan. Countries yet to sign include Thailand,Singapore and the Philippines. The “MOC” has been called “the most far-reaching multilateral… Read More