Asia

Singapore’s Financial Sector Embraces Quantum Tech for Enhanced Security

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), in collaboration with major banks DBS, HSBC, OCBC, UOB, and tech firms SPTel and SpeQtral, have initiated a significant move towards enhancing cybersecurity in the financial sector with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement sets… Read More

Worldcoin and MIMOS to Bring Digital Proof of Humanness to Malaysia

MIMOS Berhad, the applied research and development arm of the Malaysian Government, has signed an MoU with the Worldcoin Foundation, Tools for Humanity (TFH) and MyEG, an e-government services provider, to integrate Worldcoin technology into the country’s digital infrastructure. The intent of the MoU is… Read More

Singapore: DBS Bank Unveils First Multi-Currency Commercial Debit Card

Singapore’s DBS Bank, in partnership with Visa, unveiled its first multi-currency commercial debit card, the DBS Business Advance+ Card (BAC+), designed to bolster the financial operations of companies engaged in global digital markets. This launch is part of DBS’s broader strategy to facilitate smoother cross-border… Read More

Southeast Asia’s Super App Provider Grab Releases Business Update Including Progress of Financial Services Unit

Grab Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GRAB) announced unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. Anthony Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Grab said: “We continued to harness the strength of the Grab ecosystem, and improved the usage frequency and reliability… Read More

Binance Reports Global Regulatory Milestone with Registration in India

Binance has reportedly achieved its 19th global regulatory milestone with registration in India. As part of their ongoing efforts to uphold regulatory standards, Binance says it is pleased to announce that firm has “registered as a reporting entity with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).” This… Read More

Digital Investment Platform Thndr to Enhance Investing Accessibility in MENA Region with Alpaca

Thndr is said to be focused on opening investing accessibility in the MENA region with Alpaca. Thndr is an emerging force in MENA, who’s team is on “a mission to increase access to personal investing.” By opening access to the global markets for “a growing… Read More

UAE’s ADGM Issues 1,271 New Licenses in H1 2024, AuM Increase by 226%

ADGM, the international financial centre (IFC) of the UAE’s capital, continues its growth trajectory, reporting solid performance in the first half of 2024. As the fastest-growing financial centre and the only jurisdiction with the direct application of the English Common Law in the region, ADGM’s… Read More

Ripple and DIFC Innovation Hub to Enable Adoption of Blockchain Tech in the Middle East

Ripple, the provider of enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, has announced plans to partner with the DIFC Innovation Hub, the innovation ecosystem of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), to accelerate blockchain and digital assets innovation in the UAE. The new partnership will connect “the… Read More

Stablecoin USDT Issuer Tether to Invest in Kem, Paving Way for Financial Inclusion in the Middle East

Tether Operations Limited, which claims to be one of the largest companies in the digital asset industry, is announcing a $3 million strategic investment in the Kem app, a platform designed for money transfers and financial management. This collaboration will see Kem App “introduce USD₮… Read More

Working Capital Fintech Stenn and Payyd to Bring Invoice Financing to India’s Exporters

Stenn, the working capital digital platform, has partnered with Payyd, a firm focused on dynamic payments technology, to help power growth for Indian exporters. The collaboration delivers access “to Stenn’s innovative invoice financing, providing Payyd’s customers with on-demand capital through converting outstanding invoices into cashflow.”… Read More

Global Fintech Wise Plans to Sign Up More Clients in India, Will Focus on Acquiring Larger Share of Remittances Market

Wise Payments Ltd. intends to begin signing up new clients in India for global remittances following a pause. This will be done to potentially acquire a larger share of a market that’s reportedly grown to $32 billion. The London-headquartered Fintech has stopped taking additional clients… Read More

Hong Kong’s Fintech Ecosystem Is Reportedly Focusing on Growth Plans Across Greater Bay and Closer Cooperation with Shenzhen

Hong Kong’s Fintech ecosystem is reportedly focusing on growth plans across Greater Bay, along with closer cooperation with Shenzhen. As first reported by the SCMP, the Fintech association intends to further expand its operations and programs in the Greater Bay Area, according to Chair Lareina… Read More

Mox Digital Bank Introduces Crypto Investing for Clients in Hong Kong

Mox Bank Limited is making it easier for Mox Invest customers to expand their portfolios with exchange-traded cryptocurrency funds (Crypto ETFs) directly on Mox Invest. The service offers a convenient way to gain “exposure to the crypto market through a regulated and familiar investment platform… Read More

SEC in Thailand Introduces Digital Asset Regulatory Sandbox to Suppot Development of Innovations

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Thailand is introducing the Digital Asset Regulatory Sandbox to facilitate experiments and the development of innovations supporting the efficient provision of digital asset services in the real-life context. Interested parties are welcome to “participate in the Sandbox to… Read More

Blockdaemon Explains How Amended Payment Services Act By Financial Services Agency of Japan Has Clear Implications for Crypto Services

In June 2023, the Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA) amended the Payment Services Act (PSA) to provide an updated regulatory framework for crypto assets and stablecoins. According to an update from Blockdaemon, these regulations have clear implications “for Crypto Asset Exchange Service Providers (CAESP)… Read More

Tencent to Reportedly Cash In its Stake in UK Neobank Tide as Part of Pull Back from Global Investments Strategy

Chinese tech giant Tencent has reportedly decided to cash in its stake in UK neobank Tide as part of an overall retreat from its global investments strategy. Tencent has reportedly offloaded its shares to an unidentified buyer or group of buyers. Tencent, known for its… Read More

Fintech Investments in China Have Made Modest Recovery – Report

Fintech investments in China made a modest recovery towards the end of 2023 and trickled over into 2024. Among the top ten fintech deals in ASPAC, five originated from Chinese Mainland and Chinese Hong Kong. Despite the regulatory hiccups in China, fintech is poised “to… Read More

Online Payments Fintech Telr and Mastercard Introduce Digital Checkout Solution

Telr, the online payment gateway, has announced its strategic collaboration with Mastercard (NYSE: MA) to introduce its digital checkout solution, Click to Pay, across its extensive network of merchants in the UAE. Through this partnership, Telr will deploy payment technologies “to enhance the customer experience.”… Read More

UAE Fintech Sav Expands with Regulatory License

Sav, a UAE-based Fintech, has secured in-principle approval for a Category 4 license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), positioning the company for significant expansion. The licence will enable Sav to offer regulated financial services, aligning with its objective to simplify money management for… Read More

Kuwait Launches Securities-Based Crowdfunding Platforms

Kuwait has officially launched securities-based crowdfunding platforms, marking a significant milestone in the country’s financial technology landscape nearly two years after the initial draft for Fintech regulation was introduced. The announcement, made by Minister of Commerce and Industry Omar Al-Omar, represents a strategic move aimed… Read More

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