Asia

April 24, 2026 @ 3:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Recent analysis from Citi Research, part of Citi (NYSE: C), underscores a pivotal shift in artificial intelligence usage, particularly in high-engagement markets like China. A survey of 1,800 consumers who had interacted with AI tools in the prior month found that about 70% engage with… Read More

April 21, 2026 @ 9:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Vodafone Fiji has partnered with Entrust in order to roll out digital debit card issuance through its popular M-PAiSA mobile wallet, marking a significant step toward instant, contactless payments in the Pacific island nation. The collaboration introduces seamless digital-first experiences for customers, allowing them to… Read More

April 21, 2026 @ 11:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Regulatory technology provider Trulioo has reported steady expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, attributing a 51 percent year-on-year increase in business verification volume during 2025 to its latest advancements in identifying ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). The company, which specializes in global identity verification, fraud prevention, and… Read More

April 20, 2026 @ 7:59 am By Michael Wong  |  

Financial institutions are moving further into blockchain-based settlement infrastructure, with Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) launching a stablecoin minting and redemption service aimed at corporate and high-net-worth clients. The Bahrain-based lender said the new offering enables clients to convert fiat currencies into digital tokens, and vice… Read More

April 19, 2026 @ 9:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

EBANX—an international technology firm known for its expertise in facilitating cross-border payment solutions tailored to developing regions—has announced plans to launch operations in five additional nations. These include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Turkey, marking a strategic push to broaden its presence in dynamic markets… Read More

April 19, 2026 @ 2:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, a fintech company currently operating in the Middle East, has obtained a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. This regulatory approval, announced in mid-April 2026, represents a significant advancement for the firm as it broadens its… Read More

April 19, 2026 @ 1:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam-based Farmnet, the trading arm of agricultural supply chain firm TechCoop, has secured a $11.75 million senior secured loan from Symbiotics, underscoring a growing shift among Southeast Asian startups toward alternative financing as venture capital remains tight. The facility, described as the first offshore institutional… Read More

April 18, 2026 @ 2:26 am By Michael Wong  |  

Climate-focused venture capital is increasingly targeting the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence, as surging compute demand and power consumption create new investment opportunities across the digital economy. Vietnam-based Earth Venture Capital said it participated in Sygaldry Technologies’ $139 million financing round, which included a $34 million… Read More

April 16, 2026 @ 11:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple Labs has joined forces with Kyobo Life Insurance to launch the country’s inaugural tokenized government bond settlement system powered by blockchain technology. The collab represents Ripple’s initial venture with a Korean insurance provider and marks a pivotal advancement in building robust, institution-level digital asset… Read More

April 13, 2026 @ 10:00 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Bitget Wallet is exploring the integration of self-custodial crypto payments into Japan’s stablecoin payment ecosystem through discussions with Netstars, a payment infrastructure provider. The initiative centers on how Web3 wallets can connect to existing merchant networks, marking a potential step toward bringing stablecoin payments into… Read More

April 13, 2026 @ 8:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korea’s central bank has called for the introduction of circuit-breaker systems in the virtual asset market to enhance safeguards against extreme volatility and operational failures. The recommendation appears in the Bank of Korea’s latest Payment and Settlement Trends report, released on April 13, 2026…. Read More

April 13, 2026 @ 3:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

There has again been a significant setback for diplomatic efforts in South Asia that were aimed at de-escalating the ongoing US-Iran-Israel conflict. Unfortunately, the United States and Iran again failed to reach any agreement during high-level discussions held in Pakistan’s capital. The meetings, which took… Read More

April 12, 2026 @ 11:01 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong’s push to turn stablecoins from a regulatory concept into everyday financial plumbing is beginning to draw in the companies that handle money at the checkout counter. Digital asset trading platform EX.IO said it signed a memorandum of understanding with payment firm Payment Asia to… Read More

April 12, 2026 @ 4:56 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore-based cross-border payments firm Thunes is expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities through a new collaboration with Circle, as payment infrastructure providers step up efforts to connect blockchain-based rails with traditional financial systems. Thunes said it had joined Circle Payments Network Managed Payments, enabling its customers… Read More

April 12, 2026 @ 2:52 am By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia is trying to make cheap money do heavier lifting. The government is rolling out up to 5 billion ringgit ($1.3 billion) in low-cost financing to help small and medium enterprises move beyond survival mode and into higher-value sectors such as technology, green projects, automation… Read More

April 12, 2026 @ 12:54 am By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam’s race to build a regulated crypto market is beginning to look less like a policy experiment and more like a capital test. Vietnam Prosperity Crypto Asset Exchange Joint Stock Company (CAEX) said it had signed investment agreements with OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital, with… Read More

April 12, 2026 @ 12:11 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched a 4 billion peso ($68 million) loan program for micro, small, and medium enterprises, as the government moves to help smaller businesses cope with economic risks linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Trade… Read More

April 10, 2026 @ 1:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

AsiaTokenFund Group said it had formed a strategic partnership with 1MAX.com to launch a curated cryptocurrency trading platform, betting that a more selective approach to token listings could appeal to investors navigating a volatile digital asset market. The platform will target both retail newcomers and… Read More

April 10, 2026 @ 12:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ruben Bombardi, the VARA General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Enablement, noted that the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) published its Guidance on the Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook, setting out in practical terms how virtual assets are “created, disclosed, and brought to market” in Dubai…. Read More

April 9, 2026 @ 2:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korea based digital currency exchange Bithumb has reportedly initiated legal proceedings in an attempt to recover Bitcoin (BTC) that had been accidentally / unintentionally distributed to platform users during a surprising event this past February. As per recent media reports from local sources, crypto… Read More