Asia

Hong Kong’s Fintech Ecosystem Set for Sustainable Growth – Report

Hong Kong is reportedly solidifying its position as a fintech hub in Asia, with its ecosystem experiencing remarkable growth and innovation. According to the Hong Kong Fintech Ecosystem Report released by InvestHK, the city anticipates a robust future driven by blockchain, digital assets, distributed ledger… Read More

Crypto.com Issued Limited License by Dubai’s VARA to Offer Derivatives in UAE

Dubai UAE Beach Camels fredrik-ohlander-unsplash

Crypto.com announced it has been issued a limited license by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to offer derivatives in the UAE. This issuance now reportedly extends the provisions of Crypto.com’s existing VASP license to operate in the region. With this limited license, Crypto.com’s regional… Read More

Thredd’s Damien Gough: Localized Approach Key to International Fintech Expansion

Thredd’s Damien Gough said that in today’s economically challenged environment, many Fintechs seeking growth must expand to new countries. However, with every country having unique characteristics, companies cannot simply cut and paste their playbook from one into another. Thredd helps such firms quickly and successfully… Read More

Ripple Obtains DFSA License to Provide Crypto Payments in the UAE

Ripple, the enabler of enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, has received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide regulated crypto payments and services in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). Ripple will reportedly be the “first” blockchain-enabled payments provider licensed by the… Read More

Singapore’s SGX Focused on Enhancing Market Liquidity to Compete with Hong Kong, Tokyo – Analysis

Singapore has long cemented its role as a global financial hub, known for its stability, innovation, and strategic positioning in Asia. This, according to an update from KPMG. However, challenges such as relatively low market liquidity and intensifying regional competition have prompted a proactive response… Read More

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd and CMU OmniClear to Focus on Improving Securities Infrastructure

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CMU OmniClear Limited, a company established to carry out the operations of the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary… Read More

Taiwan Digital Commerce Market Set to Expand by Nearly 8% in 2025 – Report

Taiwan’s e-commerce market is forecast to grow by 7.9% in 2025, continuing its fast-paced growth driven by the “ongoing shift of consumer preferences from offline to online shopping,” according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company. GlobalData’s latest report, “Taiwan Cards and Payments – Opportunities… Read More

Ping An Tops Global Patent Rankings in Healthcare and Fintech

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. has claimed the top global spots in both healthcare and fintech patent filings, according to two new reports from the Intellectual Property Publishing House, an organization operating under the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The recently released… Read More

Blockchain Platform IMPT.io Launches Global Eco-Friendly Travel Campaign

Blockchain-powered sustainability platform IMPT.io has unveiled a worldwide campaign called #ExploreResponsibly that encourages travelers to adopt more eco-conscious habits and offset their carbon footprints. Starting in the Philippines and expanding globally, the initiative is designed to raise awareness of environmental challenges in tourism while rewarding… Read More

UK’s Lloyds Banking Group to Cut Local Jobs, Move IT Operations to India

Lloyds Banking Group, which is one of the United Kingdom’s largest FIs serving a large and diverse customer-base, is set to cut hundreds of permanent IT jobs in the UK while simultaneously hiring engineers for similar roles in India, according to a recent FT report…. Read More

CGS MYF Launches First CME Crypto Futures in Malaysia

CGS International Futures Malaysia (CGS MYF) has introduced the first publicly available CME Crypto Futures contracts in Malaysia, offering traders and investors access to Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, the company announced. The launch makes CGS International Securities Malaysia (CGS MY) the first licensed derivatives broker… Read More

Matrixport Subsidiary Fly Wing Obtains Major Payment Institution License from MAS in Singapore

Fly Wing Technologies Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Matrixport, the “one-stop” crypto financial services platform in Asia, announced that it has been granted the Major Payment Institution (MPI) License by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). With this license approval, Fly Wing will… Read More

Coalition, MS&AD Insurance Group Expand Partnership with Equity Investment

Coalition, the Active Insurance provider designed to prevent digital risk before it strikes, announced a new $30 million equity investment from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. (MSI), a member of MS&AD Insurance Group (MS&AD), the non-life insurer in Japan and across the Asian-Pacific region. The… Read More

Digital Bank Tonik Surpasses 1M Loans, Supports Consumer Lending in the Philippines

Tonik has crossed 1 million cumulative loans disbursed since inception, cementing its status as the Philippines’ credit-led digital bank and propelling a new era of “credit inclusion.” While traditional banking institutions continue to emphasize corporate credit, Tonik zeroes in on a “$40 billion latent unsecure… Read More

CTO of D24 Fintech Group Shares Lessons Learned on ByBit Hack

D24 Fintech Group Chief Technology Officer Osama Bari has outlined how crypto firms may improve security to prevent breaches on a similar scale as the ByBit hack. D24 is based in Singapore and it provides various services for financial platforms. The ByBit breach is the… Read More

AI and Blockchain Innovations Accelerate Singapore’s Fintech Ecosystem Growth Amid Investment Recalibration – Report

Singapore’s fintech sector “recalibrated” in 2024, with investment totaling $1.3 billion, the lowest level seen since 2020 according to a report from KPMG. This strategic pivot reflects a global trend “as fintech investment reached a seven-year low of US$95.6 billion.” Despite reduced funding levels, Singapore’s… Read More

BDACS and Ripple to Expand Custody and Digital Assets Ecosystem in South Korea

BDACS, a digital asset institutional custody firm in Korea, announced that it has signed a partnership with enterprise blockchain firm Ripple, the provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions. This partnership reportedly aligns with the Financial Services Commission’s (FSC) announced roadmap for “regulatory approval… Read More

World Launches in the Philippines to Develop Improved Internet in AI Age

World, which claims to be the largest human-centered financial and identity network, is now available in the Philippines, a country fueled by a young, digitally savvy population and an emerging middle class “eager to adopt new technologies and financial solutions.” World ID Orb verifications are… Read More

Southeast Asia’s InsurTech Funding Plummets 61% in 2024 Amid Global Economic Uncertainty

Funding in Southeast Asia’s InsurTech sector slumped sharply in 2024 as investors adopted a more cautious stance amid global economic headwinds, according to a report by data intelligence platform Tracxn. Total investments fell 61 percent to $193 million from $495 million in 2023, reflecting a… Read More

Global Dollar (USDG) Stablecoin Available on Solana Blockchain

Global Dollar Network, an open network designed to accelerate and reward global stablecoin adoption, announced that Global Dollar (USDG) is now available on the Solana blockchain. This expansion reportedly brings the benefits of a stablecoin that offers “fast, low-cost, 24/7 transactions and reward-sharing for network… Read More

Send this to a friend