Asia

January 13, 2025 @ 10:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The IMF has shared an update / analysis on how artificial intelligence will affect Asia’s economies. According to the blog post from the IMF, AI may widen inequality, but policymakers can “counteract this with more effective social safety nets, reskilling programs, and regulations to promote… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 10:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) launched the Supervisory Incubator for Distributed Ledger Technology to help banks responsibly unlock the transformative potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT). The Incubator is a supervisory arrangement designed to help banks maximize the “potential benefits” of DLT adoption by… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 7:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SC Lowy has reportedly decided to accelerate its pivot towards private credit, an area “rich” with various opportunities in Asia and the Middle East, that will pave the way for the “gradual” wind down of its open-ended liquid Primary Investments Fund (PI). Initially launched as… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 7:17 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The digital lending market in the Philippines, which includes registered non-bank digital lenders and digital banks, is projected to surpass $1 billion by the second half of 2025, according to a new analysis by Digido. The growth reflects strong consumer demand for online financial services… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 5:52 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Following its 2024 Article IV Consultation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recognized Hong Kong’s strong standing as an international financial center and endorsed its pathway towards fiscal consolidation. This affirmation came via a concluding statement released… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 3:38 pm By Michael Wong  |  

XTransfer, a China-based business-to-business (B2B) cross-border trade payment platform, has been granted a major payment institution (MPI) license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The license, effective from January 1, 2025, enables XTransfer to offer diverse payment services in Singapore, enhancing its position in… Read More

January 10, 2025 @ 10:33 am By JD Alois  |  

Dubai-based Tectum has issued a statement claiming to be the “world’s fastest blockchain.” According to the company the ledger technology has a “theoretical peak” of 3.5 million transactions per second (TPS). Of course, this is not something that is immediately verifiable. Alexander Guseff, Founder and… Read More

January 9, 2025 @ 7:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired a digital twin technology platform for banks developed by Percipient, a Singapore-based fintech with experience in banking tech transformation. The acquisition enhances Accenture’s banking modernization capabilities, helping financial services clients in Asia Pacific “accelerate the reinvention of their core systems,… Read More

January 8, 2025 @ 11:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

OCBC (SGX: O39) says that it has become the first bank in Singapore to launch the sale of tokenized bonds to corporate accredited investors (corporate AIs), which are corporations that have net assets exceeding SGD 10 million. The tokenized bonds, which reference investment grade bonds,… Read More

January 8, 2025 @ 8:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Maybank announced that it launched a counter-fraud security feature on the MAE App called Money Lock, which allows customers to lock funds in the savings or current accounts of their choice from “being digitally accessed, keeping the funds safe from online scammers.” With this added… Read More

January 8, 2025 @ 7:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia-based private equity firm Creador has acquired a controlling stake in Indonesia-based B2B hospitality marketplace MG Group from Indonesia Northstar and other shareholders, marking its entry into the global travel industry. The acquisition highlights Creador’s focus on Southeast Asia’s rapidly recovering travel sector, driven by… Read More

January 8, 2025 @ 7:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BRISKPE, a PayU-backed cross-border payment platform, has introduced a solution designed to meet the needs of MSMEs. This platform integrates account-to-account (A2A) transfers, card collections powered by PayU and PayPal, providing exporters, service providers, marketplace sellers and freelancers with “efficiency in managing international transactions.” By… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 5:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) claims that it had a solid 2024, marked by new leadership, greater connectivity and engagement with international markets, the launch of multi-year infrastructure enhancement programs, and fresh trading records that “underscore the market’s vibrancy and resilience.” HKEX introduced… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 5:06 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Mashreq Pakistan, a subsidiary of the UAE’s Mashreq Bank, has secured a restricted license from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to commence pilot operations as a digital retail bank in the country. The approval marks a significant milestone in Mashreq’s expansion and highlights its… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 5:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Doha Bank in Qatar has officially introduced Visa Commercial Pay. Doha Bank, which claims to be one of the largest private commercial banks in Qatar is reportedly set to become the first banking platform in the market to  launch Visa Commercial Pay (VCP) and the… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 5:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto.com has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the UAE’s Islamic Bank and a key player focused on the field of Islamic finance, as it expands its market presence in the UAE as well as the wider… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 5:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qi Card has recently introduced its third-generation app, SuperQi, in collaboration with Ant International. Powered by Alipay+ Wallet Tech solutions, SuperQi reportedly integrates a digital lifestyle super app with a “fully functional” digital banking platform, bringing a new era of financial inclusion and digital services… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 8:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Global payment solutions provider Checkout.com has entered a partnership with noqodi, a payment gateway and financial service provider, to elevate the payment experience for businesses and consumers in the UAE. As part of the collab, Checkout.com will integrate its payment tech with noqodi’s digital platform,… Read More

January 6, 2025 @ 8:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Union Bank of India has reportedly introduced various accessibility features in its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) app, now widely known as the Digital Rupee (e₹). As one of the first PSBs to provide this kind of inclusive functionality, Union Bank reaffirms its ongoing commitment… Read More

January 6, 2025 @ 8:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

United International Holding Co. has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fintech firm NowPay Corp. to establish a specialized wage processing company in Saudi Arabia, according to a company announcement. The non-binding agreement, effective for two months with an option to extend, outlines… Read More