Asia

April 21, 2025 @ 12:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tokyo-based Metaplanet has acquired an additional 330 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at $28.2 million, marking its third purchase this month. The acquisition, executed at an average price of 12.18 million Japanese yen ($85,605 per BTC), comes amid market volatility spurred by U.S. tariff measures. *Metaplanet Purchases… Read More

April 20, 2025 @ 9:11 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan will host its first-ever Digital Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Forum in Islamabad on April 29-30, a historic initiative by the Government of Pakistan and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). Supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the two-day event aims to attract international… Read More

April 20, 2025 @ 8:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition filed by 54 victims of the WazirX hack on April 16, 2025, seeking action against the crypto exchange and its associates. The decision underscores the persistent regulatory ambiguity surrounding cryptocurrencies in India, leaving victims of the $235… Read More

April 20, 2025 @ 6:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dubizzle Group, the MENA region’s digital marketplace group, announces today the acquisition of Property Monitor, a real-estate market intelligence platform in the UAE. The acquisition of Property Monitor reinforces Dubizzle Group’s leadership in real estate classifieds and technology “through a portfolio of brands, including Bayut… Read More

April 20, 2025 @ 11:09 am By Michael Wong  |  

Yiren Digital Ltd, an artificial intelligence (AI)‑powered platform providing financial and lifestyle services in China, said it formed a strategic joint venture with PT Pinjaman Kemakmuran Rakyat (klikUMKM) and PT Artha Digital Investama, part of the Artha Graha Network (AG Network), to deliver AI‑driven financial… Read More

April 19, 2025 @ 4:53 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, HashKey Capital launched the HashKey XRP Tracker Fund. The company said it is the first investment fund in Asia designed to track the performance of XRP. One of the world’s leading digital assets infrastructure providers, Ripple, is an early investor. The HashKey XRP… Read More

April 19, 2025 @ 3:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Thailand’s financial regulator has selected three consortia led by Krungthai Bank, SCB X, and Ascend Money to pioneer virtual banking services, aiming for a 2026 rollout, The Nation reported. The Bank of Thailand finalised its choice after five applicants vied for licences between March and… Read More

April 18, 2025 @ 9:18 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) has announced a strategic partnership with TerraPay, a global money movement company, to enable real-time fund transfers for PayPal customers across the Middle East and Africa. This partnership aims to drive economic growth by connecting banks, mobile wallets, and financial institutions. According to… Read More

April 15, 2025 @ 10:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

GXS Bank announced that it has received regulatory approval to acquire Validus Capital Pte Ltd, the Singapore subsidiary of Validus Investment Holdings Pte Ltd. This is the first such acquisition of a local financial technology company “by a homegrown digital bank in Singapore.” Validus Capital… Read More

April 14, 2025 @ 9:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A research paper from ThruHQ, entitled, “Egyptian B2B directory” unveils what appears tobe a “significant disconnect” in Egypt’s online business-to-business sector. The latest research findings, which are said to be derived from the curation of ThruHQ‘s initial batch of listings, indicate that while “95% of… Read More

April 13, 2025 @ 3:37 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The National Bank of Oman (NBO) has launched a fully digital account opening feature on its mobile app, allowing users to open accounts without visiting a branch or submitting physical documents, as part of its broader shift toward mobile-first banking services. The app-based feature enables… Read More

April 13, 2025 @ 12:36 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The gold reserves of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates rose 7% in January to AED24.571 billion ($6.69 billion), up from AED22.981 billion in December 2024, according to data from the central bank’s monthly statistical bulletin. The rise in gold holdings was part… Read More

April 12, 2025 @ 6:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) have solidified their commitment to regional financial security by entering into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at significantly enhancing cybersecurity measures and combating the escalating threat of digital fraud. The agreement, formally executed by… Read More

April 12, 2025 @ 6:06 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Haball, a Pakistani supply chain financing and payments fintech, has closed a $52 million pre-Series A funding round comprising equity investment and a strategic financing allocation. Financing is focused on efforts in Pakistan and an expansion into the GCC. The round’s equity component of US$5… Read More

April 12, 2025 @ 5:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong Investment Corporation Ltd (HKIC) and fintech platform WeLab announced a strategic partnership to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven financial services, aiming to promote digital financial inclusion across Asia. The collaboration will enable WeLab to expand its exploration of AI applications, including developing innovative AI… Read More

April 12, 2025 @ 11:13 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), and The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) jointly announced a series of measures aimed at enhancing the prevention and detection of financial crime, including fraud and money laundering. Authorities are responding to a… Read More

April 11, 2025 @ 3:48 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Weixin Pay users can now receive cross-border transfers from Xoom, a PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) service and a digital remittances provider. This new partnership between Tenpay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform, and Xoom allows Weixin Pay users to “receive money directly into their Weixin Pay Wallet… Read More

April 11, 2025 @ 2:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), the world’s derivatives and securities exchange network, announced the expansion of its Derivatives Market Intelligence team with the hiring of Wei Liao as Director, Derivatives Market Intelligence. Based in Hong Kong, Ms. Liao will lead the “buildout of Cboe’s… Read More

April 11, 2025 @ 2:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Checkout.com, a global digital payments company, announced its intention to expand its card issuing capabilities in the UAE. Checkout.com aims to roll out domestic card issuance “in the region in 2026, pending regulatory approval.” This will enable businesses to launch branded cards, whether physical or… Read More

April 11, 2025 @ 12:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

Institutional participation in crypto markets is key to their success and ability to scale. While many established institutions are already participating in this sector of finance, the growth will take some time. This week, global bank Standard Chartered and crypto exchange OKX revealed a partnership… Read More