Asia

March 6, 2024 @ 5:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitstamp announced that it received the In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). According to an update from Bitstamp, this is considered to be “a crucial step towards obtaining our Major Payment Institution license.” IPA paves the way for Bitstamp to “provide… Read More

March 4, 2024 @ 7:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

STICPAY, a global e-wallet service provider and payment gateway, announces new partnerships with more than 20 Asian local payment providers in a move that makes global payments for Asia’s developing market communities more accessible, integrated, and cost-effective. Across China, India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore,… Read More

March 3, 2024 @ 8:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Green Week – Finance Stream concluded Friday, marking the end of a series of sustainability-themed events that drew more than 1,600 participants from almost 30 jurisdictions worldwide. The week-long initiative brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including financial institutions, corporates, central… Read More

March 2, 2024 @ 8:58 am By Michael Wong  |  

Nium, a real-time cross-border payments firm based in the United States and Singapore, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first non-Japanese company to be granted a Type 1 Funds Transfer Service Provider (FTSP) license by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA). The license… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 7:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has partnered with Loop, a digital payments technology company licensed by SAMA, to empower businesses and consumers across the Kingdom with greater access to advanced credit card offerings and innovative payment solutions. The partnership will see Loop “expand its portfolio, enhance its… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 6:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Responding to growing demand for Finance-as-a-Service propositions in the Middle East, additiv, a global enabler of Fintech and embedded finance, has announced that it is expanding its presence in Dubai, UAE by opening a new, fully operational office location in the heart of Dubai International… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 8:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is set to launch Qatar’s “first” venture capital (VC) Fund of Funds, a strategic investment program to foster innovation in Qatar. The Fund of Funds program will “invest more than USD 1 billion in international and regional venture capital funds.” The… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 3:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Sygnum, a global digital asset banking group; Hamilton Lane (Nasdaq: HLNE), a global private markets investment management firm; and financial services firm Apex Group are expanding access to global private markets via new DLT-registered shares on the Polygon blockchain. Sygnum Bank, Hamilton Lane, and Apex… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 9:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Eazy Financial Services (EazyPay), a Bahraini financial institute specialized in Point-of-Sale (POS) and online payment gateway acquiring services, has joined forces with Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, in order “to enable Visa Direct, a cutting-edge funds transfer solution for EazyPay’s customer… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 4:21 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HashKey Technology Services Pte. Ltd., the over-the-counter trading arm of HashKey Group, has received in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore for its Major Payment Institution licence application to provide digital payment token services. The in-principle approval from the MAS, which is described as… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 8:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) has partnered with Qoo10, an online marketplace operated by eBay Japan. Adyen  said itwill aim to “support Qoo10 with fast and stable payment processing, particularly during peak periods.” Qoo10, a Japanese domestic marketplace, holds a large-scale sales event called “Mega Wari” every… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 7:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Coincheck, Inc. (Headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Satoshi Hasuo, Representative Director & President) and Circle Internet Financial, LLC, a global financial technology firm and the issuer of USDC1, announced plans for a partnership to expand USDC access in the Japanese market. USDC is a fully reserved… Read More

February 27, 2024 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

ZA Bank, one of the first regulated digital banks in Hong Kong, is now offering US stock trading as part of its platform. The company highlighted the benefits of this new service, including a USD $ 3.88 commission – during a promotional period, real-time quotes… Read More

February 27, 2024 @ 3:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

OKX is announcing the official launch of our crypto exchange in Türkiye, OKX TR. OKX says they are pleased to provide Turkish users “with a trusted, compliant and transparent gateway to crypto trading and decentralized finance.” Currently, the OKX Web3 Wallet is “available in Türkiye… Read More

February 26, 2024 @ 9:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced recently that it approved a $23 million loan to enhance access “to quality fintech education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in India.” As stated in a blog post, GIFT is a state-owned enterprise… Read More

February 25, 2024 @ 5:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Insurtech industry player The Digital Insurer (TDI) has partnered with the Singapore College of Insurance (SCI) to introduce the GenAI Explorer Program, an innovative venture designed to usher in a new era for the insurance sector through the application of generative AI technology. This exclusive… Read More

February 25, 2024 @ 5:37 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech player Helicap Pte Ltd has partnered with PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk (Danamon) to establish the duo as a pivotal source of non-dilutive growth capital for fintech companies, alternative lending firms, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across various sectors, including supply chain,… Read More

February 24, 2024 @ 2:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Qatar Central Bank will reportedly introduce the FAWRAN instant payment service. Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has called on the domestic banking institution to adjust their status as part of its plans to introduce the instant payment service (called Fawran) in March of 2024. The… Read More

February 24, 2024 @ 2:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Data from Ant Group reportedly shows a robust rebound of consumer spending during the first back-to-normal Chinese New Year (CNY) travel season after the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in cross-border tourism. Through the Alipay+ cross-border mobile payment technology solutions, Chinese travelers may pay “for goods, food… Read More

February 24, 2024 @ 2:10 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Lending Fintech companies accounted for 30% of all Fintech acquisitions in India in 2023, highlighting a shift in market dynamics amid growing regulatory pressures, a report from GrowthPal revealed. This surge in acquisitions within the lending sector marks a departure from previous years, where the… Read More