Asia

May 22, 2026 @ 7:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Payward, the parent company of the cryptocurrency exchange and digital investment platform Kraken, has received preliminary approval for a comprehensive broker-dealer, investment, and management license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This milestone marks a significant step in digital assets platform Kraken’s strategy to… Read More

May 21, 2026 @ 8:49 am By JD Alois  |  

Bsquared Technology has lost its regulatory approval issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).  The regulator stated that Bsquared was banned from providing digital payment token services on May 14th. MAS said an on-site inspection revealed serious regulatory compliance violations. This included a claim… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

For many years, individual consumers and businesses operating in Pakistan have experienced considerable challenges when accessing basic financial services due to a lack of regulatory clarity and issues related to inadequate regulatory guidelines. However, this year has started off on a rather positive note with… Read More

May 20, 2026 @ 9:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

XDC Network is now reportedly working with Animoca Brands as a strategic institutional validator. Announced recently this month, the partnership sees the Web3 investor and builder operating masternodes on the specialized network, which handles substantial volumes in trade finance and real-world asset (RWA) transactions each… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 11:05 am By JD Alois  |  

Iran has announced it intends to offer insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz using Bitcoin. Fars News Agency and Iran’s Ministry of Economy state that the system provides cryptographically verifiable insurance policies. By using Bitcoin, Iran aims to circumvent the many sanctions imposed… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong regulators and market participants have released a sector-focused transition finance guide for the technology industry, as the city seeks to give banks, investors, and issuers more practical tools for assessing climate transition plans in digital infrastructure and ICT financing. The Hong Kong Green… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank will ease some rules governing the sale of complex investment products to retail investors, as regulators seek to balance investor protection with growing demand for self-directed investing platforms and digital financial services. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it will proceed… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 7:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A recent report indicates that China’s artificial intelligence venture market is demonstrating notable resilience amid a broader slowdown in venture capital activity, according to a new Q2 2026 analyst note from PitchBook. While overall VC deployment has contracted significantly since its 2021 peak, AI-related investments… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 7:06 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar has launched a $30 million deep-tech venture fund that will invest in early-stage startups headquartered in the country that are developing tech with measurable social or climate impact. The fund adds to a wave of state-backed investment vehicles across the Gulf aimed at attracting… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 3:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Harvard University’s endowment is said to have significantly scaled back its cryptocurrency exposure, while Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company has steadily expanded its commitment to Bitcoin. Recent 13F filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) highlight these shifts among major institutional players navigating… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 3:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Australia’s NEXTDC has opened a $720 million data center in Malaysia, betting on rising demand for AI infrastructure and cloud services in Southeast Asia as governments and companies race to expand digital capacity. The facility, known as KL1 Kuala Lumpur, marks NEXTDC’s first international expansion and comes… Read More

May 17, 2026 @ 11:41 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The stablecoin sector continues to evolve with various financial institutions and regulators advancing infrastructure that blends traditional finance with blockchain capabilities. French banking provider Societe Generale is expanding its tokenized finance initiatives by integrating its CoinVertible stablecoins into the Canton Network. Through its digital assets… Read More

May 15, 2026 @ 1:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CertiK has released its Skynet DPRK Crypto Threats Report, offering a rather concerning look at how North Korean-linked actors have turned digital asset theft into a streamlined, high-yield revenue engine for the regime. Covering nearly a decade of activity through early 2026,… Read More

May 14, 2026 @ 1:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korean consumers are embracing facial recognition technology for everyday purchases. A fintech player is leading the charge, with ambitious plans to render traditional physical credit cards obsolete within the next three years. This shift highlights the country’s rapid evolution in digital payments, where convenience… Read More

May 13, 2026 @ 8:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Research from digital payments provider Checkout.com shows that the expansion of online shopping across the MENA region is fueled by consumers’ desire for effortless, seamless transactions. Yet the report, titled “From Invisible Payments to AI Agents,” makes one thing clear: frictionless experiences only succeed when… Read More

May 11, 2026 @ 12:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BNY (NYSE: BK) has joined forces with Finstreet Limited and the ADI Foundation in a partnership designed to introduce regulated, high-capacity, institutional-quality digital asset custody services rooted in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The initiative combines BNY’s established strengths in asset safeguarding with the… Read More

May 10, 2026 @ 6:34 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Southeast Asia’s food delivery market is becoming a structural part of household spending rather than a pandemic-era habit, BMI Country Risk and Industry Research said, pointing to Grab Holdings’ record first-quarter results as evidence of a broader shift in consumer behavior. Singapore-based Grab reported first-quarter… Read More

May 10, 2026 @ 12:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore retained its position among the world’s stronger jurisdictions for combating illicit finance after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said the city-state has a “robust and effective” framework to counter money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing. The development comes as regulators push for… Read More

May 10, 2026 @ 11:38 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it plans to mobilize $30 billion by 2030 to help Southeast Asian nations strengthen economic resilience, deepen capital markets, and accelerate regional energy connectivity as the bloc faces mounting geopolitical and economic uncertainty. ADB President Masato Kanda announced the commitment during the 48th… Read More

May 7, 2026 @ 10:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Visa (NYSE: V) has rolled out its Agentic Ready initiative to issuers in Canada and Malaysia, marking another step in its global push to ready the payments industry for a future shaped by artificial intelligence. This program equips banks and partners with a secure testing… Read More